Images

A marble bust of Roman consul and Praetorian prefect Gaius Fulvius Plautianus (d. 205 CE) who served under Septimius Severus. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A colossal statue of a Genius, the Roman instance of a divine nature. The likeness of the face to Augustus and size of the sculpture suggest it may represent the Genius Augusti. The figure holds a cornucopia and is making a sacrifice. (Vatican...

A marble statue of Ceres, the Roman agricultural goddess (or possibly also Juno). From Rome, 2nd century CE. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A colossal statue of the Roman goddess Juno Sospita (the Saviour). She wears a goatskin over her head and torso. Probably from a temple in the Forum Olitorium, Rome. 2nd century CE. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A colossal marble statue of Roman emperor Claudius in the guise of Jupiter. From a theatre at Lanuvio, 1st century CE. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A bust of Antinous, favourite of emperor Hadrian. From Hadrian's Villa, Rome, sculpted between 130 and 138 CE. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

The presbytery of Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna (Italy) with its magnificent Byzantine mosaics, built between 527 - 548 CE.

A marble bust of the Hellenistic philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BCE), founder of Epicureanism. 2nd century CE Roman copy of an earlier Greek original. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A portrait of the Greek philosopher Antisthenes (c. 450-370 BCE), founder of the Cynic school of philosophy. 2nd century CE Roman copy of a 3rd century BCE original by Phyromachus. (Vatican Museums, Rome)

A Roman floor mosaic dating to between 350 and 375 CE and depicting a rabbit and trap. Food was a popular subject in mosaics throughout the Roman period. Provenance: Toragnola, Rome. (Vatican Museums, Rome).