Go to Index, Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Roman Coins: Republic and Principate, Roman Coins: Empire, Greek Coins, Coins from the Hunterian Museum
gold cuff bracelet; Etruscan, mid-seventh century BCE
The fine granulated decoration includes rows of three female figures clasping hands.
Rome, Vatican Museum (Etruscan Museum). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: jewelry, armilla
large gold fibula; Etruscan, mid-seventh century BCE
The fine granulated decoration includes various geometric designs.
Rome, Vatican Museum (Etruscan Museum). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: jewelry, pin
large gold earring; Etruscan
A female head, also wearing earrings, is surrounded by dangling amphorae.
Rome, Villa Giulia Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: jewelry
black-figure amphora depicting warrior fighting Amazon; Greek, Attic, 540-30 BCE
detail, combatants
The vase is painted in the manner of the Princeton Painter.
Rome, Villa Giulia Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: vase painting, Amazonomachy
statue of Erato, Muse of Lyric Poetry; Roman, 2nd century CE
Erato, whose name is derived from eros (love, passion), is shown seated, playing a lyre; the statue was found near Tivoli.
Rome, Vatican Museum (Hall of the Muses). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: sculpture, music, mythology
portrait bust of Claudia Octavia; Roman, mid-first century CE
Claudia Octavia was the ill-fated daughter of the emperor Claudius and Messalina; she was married to Nero, who banished and then executed her in 62 CE. The bust was found on the Via Varese in Rome.
Rome, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (National Museums). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: sculpture, Julio-Claudian empress
portrait bust of Octavian; Roman (from the Albani Collection), 35-29 BCE
Octavian, the future Augustus, is shown wearing a military cloak (lacerna) fastened with a brooch.
Rome, Palazzo Nuovo (Capitoline Museums). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: sculpture
drawing of the route of the Via Ostiense leading from Ostia to Rome.
The drawing also shows the course of the Tiber River, the
city of Ostia and Portus, the
artificial harbor constructed by Claudius and opened under Nero; for more information on Portus see "The Harbour of Claudius" (will open in new window).
Rome, Museo di Via Ostiense. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: shipping; trade; commerce
Latin inscription on bronze tablet; Roman (from southern Italy), 186 BCE
The inscription records the Senatus Consultum de Bacchanalibus, which prohibited the celebration of Bacchanalia, rites in honor of the god Bacchus, throughout Italy.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: religion, bacchants, Dionysus
gold bracelet; Hellenistic-Egyptian, first century BCE - first century CE
This elaborate bracelet combines religious, fertility, and erotic symbolism. Two snakes entwine to form a Herakles knot; the snake on the left is Agathodaimon, associated with Serapis, and the cobra on the right is Terenouthis, sacred to Isis. Between them stand the goddesses Isis-Tyche-Fortuna and Aphrodite, nude goddess of love.
New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: jewelry
sardonyx cameo of woman with laurel wreath; Roman, Julio-Claudian era (setting is modern)
Possibly a portrait of Antonia Minor, mother of Claudius.
Boston, Museum of Fine Arts. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2002
Keywords: imperial family
sardonyx cameo of Nero and Claudia Octavia; Greco-Roman, from the Fayum in Egypt
The cameo may have been made to commemorate the marriage to Nero to Octavia, daughter of the emperor Claudius, in 53 CE. It depicts a youthful Nero with his new bride; note the well-defined straps of Octavia's stola, mark of the married woman.
Boston, Museum of Fine Arts. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2002
Keywords: imperial family; dress
life-size marble statue of Sabina, wife of emperor Hadrian; Roman, c. 136 CE
detail, head of Sabina. This statue was among the items that the Museum of Fine Arts recently returned to Italy.
Boston, Museum of Fine Arts. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2002
Keywords: imperial family, empress
marble bust of Julius Caesar; Roman, last quarter of the first century BCE
detail, head of Julius Caesar.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: portrait
Parian marble bust of Cleopatra VII; Roman, found at the Villa of the Quintilii on the Via Appia
side view
Cleopatra wears a melon hairstyle with a bun and a broad diadem; the portrait resembles coins of Cleopatra minted at Ascalon and Alexandria. The hair is damaged in the front; the knob at the top may have been part of her hairstyle or a headdress such as a lotus crown or uraeus (cobra headdress).
Rome, Gregoriano Profano, Vatican Museums. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: portrait, Egypt; Ptolemaic dynasty
portrait of a woman resembling Cleopatra VII; Roman, second half first century BCE
side view
Originally identified as a bust of Cleopatra herself, this is now thought to represent a woman of the queen's entourage, perhaps one who accompanied her to Rome from 46-44 BCE. The hairdo is not the same as Cleopatra's on coins, and there is no royal diadem.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: portrait, Egypt
cameo depicting Cleopatra and Antony (possibly some modern reworking)
The cameo idealizes both rulers and resembles cameos representing earlier Ptolemaic pairs such as Ptolemy II Philadelphus and Arsinoe II.
Berlin, Altes Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2005
Keywords: portrait; Egyptian dynasty
layered onyx cameo of a Ptolemaic queen; Greco-Egyptian, Hellenistic period
Boston, Museum of Fine Arts. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2002
cameo depicting Livilla as Ceres with her new-born twins; Roman, 19 CE
Livilla was the daughter of Antonia and Drusus (son of Livia) and the wife of Drusus the Younger, son of the emperor Tiberius. This cameo commemorates the birth of twin sons in 19 CE; her fertility is celebrated through attributes of the goddess Ceres, since she wears fillet and a wreath of grain, while one of her infants holds a cornucopia.
Berlin, Altes Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2005
Keywords: portrait; imperial family
gold ring with carnelian cameo bust of Livia; Roman, 10-20 CE
The ring was among the "treasure of Petescia" in Umbria, Italy, buried in sometime between 10 and 20 CE, perhaps by someone with connections to the imperial family.
Berlin, Altes Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2005
Keywords: portrait; imperial family; jewelry
sardonyx cameo depicting Venus and Adonis; Roman, beginning first century CE
Adonis leans back against the goddess, who embraces him. To the left is a Dionysiac thrysus, and at the top is a small statue of Priapus.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: erotic; mythology; Aphrodite
gold ring with carnelian cameo depicting Hercules shackled by Cupid; Roman, first century BCE
Hercules sits on a mound with his lionskin and club while Cupid binds his hands behind his back, an allegory for the conquest of strength by erotic passion.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: jewelry; mythology; Heracles; Eros; Amor
marble votive relief with nymphs; Hellenistic Greek, third century BCE
The three nymphs, dressed in peplos tunics and stylishly coiffed, clasp hands. The relief is adorned with flowers and vessels.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: mythology; women's clothing
detail, black-figured lekythos; Attic, c. 540 BCE
Women weaving at a loom. Attributed to the Amasis Painter.
New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1992
Keywords: textiles, weave, clothing
white-ground oinochoe; Attic, c. 490 BCE
Attributed to the Brygos Painter.
detail, woman spinning. She holds a distaff in
her left hand and pulls out the unspun wool with her right. The spindle, weighted with a whorl, dangles below.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1999
Keywords: textiles, spin, clothing
large bronze fountain sculpture group; Roman, second half of the second century BCE
The goddess Cybele in a wagon drawn by two lions (originally waterspouts projected from the lions' mouths).
detail, Cybele; the goddess wears a mural crown
and holds a patera and tympanum.
New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: religion, Magna Mater, Great Mother
detail, Lucanian tomb painting; fifth century BCE
A winged female death demon draws a deceased woman on to a boat to the underworld.
Paestum, National Archaeological Museum of Paestum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1979
Keywords: Magna Graecia, funerary, Italic art
sarcophagus relief of muses; Roman, third century CE
The husband sits at one end, depicted as a poet holding a scroll;
his wife sits at the other end, depicted as a lyre player. Eight muses, symbolized by the feathers on their heads, surround the deceased (perhaps the wife was intended to be seen as the ninth muse). Some of the muses' attributes have been incorrectly restored.
Rome, Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican Museums. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: Muses, funerary, music
marble statue of a woman; Roman
The statue, which apparently depicts Cleopatra VII, was allegedly found on the Via Cassia near the so-called "Tomba di Nerone."
Rome, Museo Pio-Clementino, Vatican Museums. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
painting, Mars Being Disarmed by Venus; Jacques-Louis David, 1824
Venus and her nymphs persuade the god of war to relinquish his armor and weapons.
Brussels, Royal Museum of Ancient Art of Belgium. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: mythology, allegory, Aphrodite, Ares
painting, Hercules and the Lernaean Hydra; Gustave Moreau, 1875-76
Chicago, Institute of Fine Arts. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: mythology, Herakles
painting, Perseus and Andromeda; Guiseppe Cesari, known as the Cavalier d'Arpino, 1602
The hero swoops down on Pegasus, with the head of Medusa on his shield, to combat the sea monster that is menacing Andromeda.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: mythology
painting, Cleopatra's Banquet; Gerard de Lairesse, 1680
Antony, dressed in armor, sits at one end of the lavish table. At the other end,
Cleopatra is about to remove a pearl
earring to dissolve it in vinegar and drink it.
Amsterdam, Rijksmuseum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
painting, Pallas Athene; Gustav Klimt, 1898
In this haunting art nouveau painting, the red-haired, flashing-eyed goddess wears the Gorgon aegis. Behind her head can be seen shadowy figures from a Greek vase painting depicting Athena supporting Herakles as he wrestles with Triton. Instead of a winged Nike, her right hand supports a small naked female standing on a globe and holding up a beacon light or shining mirror.
Vienna, Wien Museum Karlsplatz. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: mythology
onyx cameo of eagle; Roman, 27 BCE
larger version. The eagle holds in its claws
a palm branch and laurel leaf crown, symbols of victory. The cameo was probably made to celebrate Augustus' "restoration of the Republic" that year. The frame dates from the sixteenth century.
Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: imperial symbolism
terracotta figurine; Greek, from Tarento, third century BCE
This charming domestic figurine depicts a standing mother with two children; she holds one boy on her shoulder while the other attempts to pull himself up her body by clinging to her tunic.
Amsterdam, Allard Pierson Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: family
red-figure volute krater; Apulian, attributed to the "Underworld Painter," 330-20 BCE
This large vase depicts the myth of Medea; the style of clothing indicates that the vase references a performance of a tragic drama.
detail, death of the princess: In the center, the princess is dying after putting on the poisoned garments that were a "gift" from Medea; to the left, her father, King Creon, attempts to help her and is himself poisoned, while Jason, on the right vainly tries to pull the flaming diadem from her head. Medea's old nurse, who delivered the gifts, flees on the right.
detail, Medea kills her sons: Medea is about to slay one of her sons with a sword, while Jason vainly tries to save the other. The sun god waits to carry Medea off in a chariot drawn by serpents.
Munich, Antikensammlung. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2005
Keywords: mythology, tragedy, Euripides, drama
central panel of so-called "Ludovisi throne"; Greek from Magna Graecia, c. 460 BCE
The throne was probably taken from the sanctuary of Aphrodite at Locri and used in ritual celebrations. The back depicts the birth of Aphrodite from the sea; she is supported by two nymphs.
view of back with right side panel;
detail, right side panel. This side depicts a seated young female, fully draped, holding an incense container and probably performing a religious ritual.
view of back with left side panel;
detail, left side panel. This side depicts a seated young female, naked, playing a double flute.
Rome, Palazzo Altemps (National Museums). Credits: Barbara McManus, 2003
Keywords: feminine symbolism, Venus
rear wall of Ara Pacis; Roman, 13-9 BCE
The east side of the great Augustan "Altar of Peace." To the right of this entrance is a relief, now extremely fragmentary, representing the goddess Roma, seated on her cast-off shield and armor. To the left of the entrance is a beautiful relief of the
goddess Tellus (Earth), or perhaps Italia
(detail of goddess and infants). She is flanked by nymphs personifying the winds, surrounded by symbols of fertility and abundance, and holds two infants on her lap. The entire panel is clearly an allegory of the benefits of peace.
Rome, Ara Pacis Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: Augustan symbolism
right front relief of Ara Pacis; Roman, 13-9 BCE
Detail from the west side of the great Augustan "Altar of Peace," the front of the altar.
detail, sacrifice;
detail, shrine with two seated male divinities.
This scene is usually interpreted as Aeneas, shown bearded and wearing a toga pulled up over his head, sacrificing a sow to the Penates,
the city gods rescued from Troy and brought to Rome. An alternative interpretation suggests that the bearded figure is King Numa, sacrificing a sow to two mature deities,
possibly Jupiter and Pluto or Mars, to commemorate a treaty averting a war.
Rome, Ara Pacis Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: Augustan symbolism
three styli; Roman
The pointed end of the stylus was used for writing on the soft wax coating of wooden tablets; the broad, flat end was used for erasing. The styli on the left and right are bronze; the middle is iron with a bronze sheathing.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: writing, wax tablet
model of the Temple of Apollo on the Palatine; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: religion; city of Rome
model of the Temple of Isis and Serapis in the Campus Martius; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: religion; city of Rome
model of the Temple of the Deified Claudius from the front; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
model of the Temple of Claudius from the side.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: religion; city of Rome
model of the foot of the Aventine with probable location of the Temple of Ceres, Liber, and Libera; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: religion; city of Rome
model of the back of the Baths of Nero from ground level; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: leisure; bathing; city of Rome
model of the front of the Baths of Nero and the Stagnum Agrippae from above; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
view of this complex from the side;
view of the pool in the Baths of Nero.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: leisure; bathing; city of Rome
plan of the Baths of Nero with labels
Credits: Barbara McManus, 1998
Keywords: leisure; bathing; city of Rome
model of front of the Baths of Trajan from above; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
model of back of the Baths of Trajan from above;
detail, pool in the Baths of Trajan;
detail, western garden in the Baths of Trajan with probable location of the library;
detail, eastern garden in the Baths of Trajan;
detail, theater at the rear of the Baths of Trajan.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: leisure; bathing; Trajan's Baths; city of Rome
model of Colosseum area; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
Besides the Flavian Amphitheater, one can see the colossal statue of Nero (Colossus), the fountain called the Meta Sudans, and the Arch of Constantine.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: leisure; sports; arena; city of Rome
model of the Theater and Crypta of Balbus from side at ground level; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: leisure; city of Rome
model of the Theater and Crypta of Balbus from above; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
One can see the cavea and the Portico of Octavia.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: leisure; city of Rome
model of the Theaters of Pompey and Balbus from above; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: leisure; city of Rome
model of the Theater of Marcellus from ground level; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
The view includes the Pons Cestius, Temple of Aesculapius on Tiber Island, and the Pons Fabricius.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: leisure; city of Rome
model of the Porta Capena and Circus Maximus from ground level along the Via Appia; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: leisure; chariot racing; road; city of Rome
model of slope of the Aventine along the Tiber; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
The view shows the course of the Clivus Publicius that climbs to the top of the AVentine hill.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: street; road; city of Rome
model of north central Campus Martius from above; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
The view shows the course of the road that crosses the Campus from the Tiber to the Via Flaminia, possibly called the Via Recta.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: street; road; city of Rome
model of Vicus Iugarius; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
The view shows the course of the street along the cliff of the Capitoline hill toward the Forum.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: street; road; city of Rome
model of emporium district along the Tiber from ground level; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
The image shows the view of visitors arriving in Rome by boat, looking over the port area toward the Aventine hill.
closer view towards Tiber bridges.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: Porticus Aemilia; commerce; shipping; city of Rome
model of emporium district looking south across the Tiber from ground level; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
same view with labels.
The view includes the Emporium, Porticus Aemilia, Horrea Galbana, and Mons Testaceus.
detail; Emporium and quay;
detail; Porticus Aemilia.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: port; commerce; shipping; city of Rome
model of the back of the Horrea Galbana from ground level; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: warehouse; granary; commerce; shipping; city of Rome
model of the Forum Boarium, Circus Maximus, Palatine from ground level; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
detail; Forum Boarium.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: city of Rome
model of the Saepta Julia from ground level; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
side view of model from above.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: voting; city of Rome
model of the Domus Augustana complex from above, facing theForum; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
same view with labels.
This shows Domitian's Palace on the Palatine Hill, with the public portion (Domus Flavia) and the private portion (Domus Augustana) with its attached garden popularly called the "Hippodrome."
galleries of the Domus Augustana overlooking the Circus Maximus.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: imperial palace; Domitian; city of Rome
model of the Arx from below, showing the Temple of Juno Moneta; modern (plastico of fourth century CE city)
view of the Arx from above;
detail of Auguraculum and Temple of Juno Moneta.
A hut in the primitive Latin style has been added to the Auguraculum, the sacred platform for the taking of auspices.
EUR (Rome), Museum of Roman Civilization. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: Capitoline Hill; augury; city of Rome
model of the Mausoleum of Augustus from ground level; modern
Rome, Ara Pacis Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: imperial tomb; funerary; city of Rome
model of the Horologium of Augustus from ground level; modern
The horologium was a giant sundial using a captured Egyptian obelisk as pointer; this model also shows the relative size and position of the Ara Pacis.
Rome, Ara Pacis Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: clock; city of Rome
relief of Temple of Jupiter Stator; Roman, first century CE
This relief is a detail from the famous funerary monument of the Haterius family in Rome; it is part of a sequence of images depicting monuments built or restored in the Flavian period.
Rome, Gregoriano Profano, Vatican Museums. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: tomb; religion; tomb of the Haterii; city of Rome
relief of triumphal arch near Temple of Isis; Roman, first century CE
This relief is a detail from the famous funerary monument of the Haterius family in Rome; it is part of a sequence of images depicting monuments built or restored in the Flavian period. This detail depicts an arch probably built to celebrate the double triumph of Vespasian and Titus in 71 CE.
Rome, Gregoriano Profano, Vatican Museums. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: tomb of the Haterii; city of Rome
relief depicting the funeral of a woman; Roman, first century CE
This relief is a detail from the famous funerary monument of the Haterius family in Rome.
This closer view shows that the
deceased woman is laid out on a lectus surrounded
by torches and mourners; notice her veil and rings. Above the bier,
two females with unbound hair beat their breasts in grief. On the left side of the bier,
two female musicians accompany the dirge, one playing the double flute. Beneath the bier
a procession is shown, with two women and two men beating their breasts.
Rome, Gregoriano Profano, Vatican Museums. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: tomb of the Haterii; funerary; religion; death
long corridor of the Tabularium; Roman, first century BCE
Rome, Capitoline Museums. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: Republican architecture; city of Rome
view of the Roman Forum from the Tabularium corridor; Roman, first century BCE
Rome, Capitoline Museums. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: Republican architecture; city of Rome
columns of the Temple of Vespasian; Roman, first century CE
The photo was taken from the corridor of the Tabularium and shows the Corinthian capitals and entablature frieze depicting religious implements.
Rome, Roman Forum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: religion; city of Rome
restored fragment of entablature of the Temple of Vespasian; Roman, first century CE
including bull's skulls (boucrania, a priest's cap, a whip, a pitcher, a sacrificial knife, a libation bowl, and an axe.
detail of frieze showing religious implements;
detail showing Cupid as the handle of the pitcher.
Rome, Capitoline Museums. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: religion; sacrifice; city of Rome
relief plaque from the Lacus Curtius; Roman, first century CE copy of Republican original
The relief reflects the story that the Sabine Mettius Curtius rode his horse into a swamp at this spot and escaped the pursuing Romans.
Rome, Capitoline Museums. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: Roman Forum; city of Rome
bronze proportional compass; Roman
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: tools; craft; artisan
bronze nails with magic symbols and inscriptions; Roman, third-fourth century CE
Magical nails were use to "fix" the power of the magic, whether for protection or for curses.
this view shows the other side of the top and middle nails, both of which depicted a snake.
this detail of the largest nail shows the inscribed writing, an incantation to the goddess Artemis.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1999; 2006
Keywords: religion; magic
painted terracotta head of Juno; early Italic (Faliscan), c. 380 BCE
This is a fragment of high-relief pedimental decoration on a temple near Falerii (modern Scasato); the temple may have been dedicated to Minerva, but the pediment depicted the three deities of the Capitoline triad (Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva). Juno is depicted as a fashionable matron, with an elegant hairstyle, necklace, and large earrings; the diadem on her her indicates her divinity.
Rome, Villa Giulia Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: religion; Latin tribes; Falisci; Hera
fresco of the Greek playwright Menander, first century CE
The painting is on the wall of an exedra located off the peristyle of the house, which has been named after this painting.
Pompeii, House of the Menander. Credits: Barbara McManus, 1979
Keywords: wall painting, domestic
head of a young woman, Roman, first century BCE
side view;
view from other side.
This marble portrait, found in the Via del Corso in Rome, depicts a young woman with delicate features; her distinctive nodus hairstyle with side braids resembles that on a
coin thought to depict Antony's wife Fulvia.
Copenhagen, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: portrait sculpture; girl
altar dedicated to the goddess Diana, Roman, c. 200 CE
This marble altar, which may have been found in the sanctuary of Diana at Nemi, depicts a woman with her palla pulled over her head standing before a garlanded altar (see
detail). Two male attendants bring a sacrificial bull to be purified. The
back of the altar, sculpted in lower relief, depicts one of Diana's stags that appears to be
preparing to place a branch on the altar. One
side of the altar also depicts a stag, with a disk on its back that may have been
intended to hold a portrait, though none was added.
Copenhagen, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2008
Keywords: religion; sacrifice; priestess
altar dedicated to Gaius Manlius, Roman, probably Augustan period
detail of sacrificial scene
This marble altar was found in the theater at Caere (modern Cerveteri). The inscription reads "His clients [dedicated this] to Gaius Manlius, son of Gaius,
censor for life." A male figure with his toga pulled over his head stands next to a garlanded altar pouring a libation. On the other side of the altar, two kneeling
victimarii hold the head of a bull while another prepares to swing the sacrificial axe; behind the bull another victimarius holds the hammer used to
stun the bull (malleus) in his right hand and a plate with offerings (molae salsae in his left. In front of him stand a flute player and a boy sacrificial attendant
(camillus).
Rome, Gregoriano Profano, Vatican Museums. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2007
Keywords: religion; sacrifice
gold signet ring with female head, probably made in Greece, 350-300 BCE
The female is probably intended to suggest Aphrodite. From tomb 83 at Kourion, Cyprus.
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: jewelry; Venus
bronze figurine of a lar, Roman, first century CE
London, British Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2006
Keywords: domestic religion; household deity; lares
bronze figurine of a lar, Roman
Florence, Archaeological Museum. Credits: Barbara McManus, 2004
Keywords: domestic religion; household deity; lares
Go to Index, Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Roman Coins: Republic and Principate, Roman Coins: Empire, Greek Coins, Coins from the Hunterian Museum
revised September, 2008
