Images

Flora was the Roman goddess of flowers, vegetation and fertility. Spring was her season and her temple stood near the Circus Maximus in Rome. Her festival, called the Floralia, was instituted in 238 BCE. This Roman artwork from the Hadrianic...

Mosaic depicting the She-wolf with Romulus and Remus, inspired by the legend of the founding of Rome. From Aldborough (UK), about 300-400 CE (Leeds City Museum).

Statue known as the Vaison Diadumenos (ribbon wearer) depicting an athlete tying a victor's ribbon around his head. It was found at the Roman theatre of Vaison-la-Romaine (France). Hadrianic copy (2nd century CE) after a 5th century BCE original...

Marble relief with female gladiators, from Halicarnassus (modern Bodrum, Turkey), 1st-2nd century CE. The British Museum, London. This marble relief commemorates the honourable release from service (missio) of two women fighters...

Fourth Style fresco depicting the Sacrifice of Iphigenia, from the House of the Tragic Poet in Pompeii. 1st century CE. (Naples National Archaeological Museum) Iphigenia is dragged to the altar as a sacrificial offering to Artemis. On either...

Fresco depicting Iapyx removing an arrowhead from Aeneas' thigh. Venus stands over while beside Aeneas stands his young son Ascanius. 1st century CE (between 45 and 79 CE), from Pompeii. (Naples National Archaeological Museum).

Marble relief depicting the Apotheosis (elevation to divine status) of the poet Homer with Zeus, Apollo and the Muses, signed by the sculptor Archelaus of Priene, ca. 225-205 BCE, found in Italy but thought to have been sculpted in Egypt...

Marble portrait bust of the blind poet Homer with Greek letters carved on each side, Antonine copy (2nd century CE) of a Hellenistic original of the 2nd century BCE, found 1780 near Baiae (Italy). Now in the British Museum.

A sandstone statue of the Hindu god Brahma. The god is in typical pose with four faces representing his creation of the four Vedas in Hindu mythology. 1.20 m tall. Cambodia, 10th century CE. (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York)

A depiction of the Hindu Creator god Brahma. The god is frequently depicted with four faces representing safety, fortune, blessing, and compassion. Chiang Mai, Thailand.