Images

Marble statue of a female. IInd Proto-Cypriot style. From Cyprus. 600-560 BCE. (Museum of Archaeology, Istanbul, Turkey).

This fragmentary wall-paining depicts Phaedra with an attendant, probably her nurse. The story of Phaedra's tragic love for her step-son is depicted in other early imperial paintings, often in connection with similar Greek literary themes...

This wall-painting depicts a reclining Naiad (water-nymph), drinking from a horn. This panel adorned the "Red Room" behind the triclinium (dining room) of the villa. A companion panel from the same room is in the Museo Nazionale Archeologico...

This panel from a painted wall depicts the wine-god Bacchus and his companion, Silenus. Bacchus pours wine from a cup for the panther while Silenus plays the lyre. From a villa at Boscoreale, near Pompeii, in modern-day Italy. Roman period...

This scene of Greek mythology shows Ariadne on the island of Naxos. She points at her lover, Theseus, who is abandoning her. Ariadne had helped him get out of the Labyrinth after he killed the half-man, half-bull Minotaur. From Herculaneum...

This panel from a painted wall depicts Ulysses resisting the songs of the Sirens. Ulysses is tied to the mast of his ship. The Sirens perch on high rocks, with the bones of earlier victims around them. From Pompeii, in modern-day Italy. Roman...

Silver vase, partly gilded, with an ivy wreath and a vine scroll; the handles also have vines. Roman period, c. 10-80 CE. Made in Italy. (The British Museum, London).

This bronze figure represents Autumn holding fruits in the folds of her shawl. Said to be from the neighborhood of Padua, in modern-day Italy. Roman period, made in Italy, about 10-100 CE. (The British Museum, London).

This is a bronze bust of Minerva, goddess of wisdom. Roman period, about 50-150 CE. Bequeathed by R. Payne Knight. (The British Museum, London).

This is a bronze figure of Venus, goddess of love, fertility, sex, and beauty. Roman period, c. 1st century CE. Bequeathed by R. Payne Knight. (The British Museum, London).