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aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot)
@aicbyzantine.bsky.social
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Sharing artworks from the Art Institute of Chicago's Ancient and Byzantine Art department. Automated thanks to @andreitr.bsky.social and @botfrens.bsky.social
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aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 11h
Tetradrachm (Coin) Depicting the God Apollo Gryneios https://www.artic.edu/artworks/96056/
The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the head of the god Apollo, laureate, facing to the right. The back (reverse) depicts Apollo marching right, holding a patera and garlanded laurel branch; at his feet are an omphalos and diota. This coin is recognized as one of the most beautiful examples of minting from antiquity. Apollo is wearing a wreath of laurel, which was his sacred plant. In his youth Apollo pursued a nymph named Daphne (another name for laurel), who chose to turn into a laurel tree to escape the god. Gift of Martin A. Ryerson
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AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 13h
Coin Depicting the God Apollo https://www.artic.edu/artworks/142870/
Gift of William F. Dunham
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 15h
Coin Portraying Emperor Trajan https://www.artic.edu/artworks/142497/
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the head of Emperor Trajan, facing right, laureate. The back (reverse) depicts a triumphal arch with four columns, three arches: Trajan in center above triangle; architrave with disc, Nike supporting, capitives and trophies to his side. Gift of Robert L. Grover
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AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 19h
Coin Depicting the Hero Herakles https://www.artic.edu/artworks/142752/
The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the hero Hercules, facing right, wearing his signature lion skin cloak tied around his neck. The back (reverse) shows a bow, amphora, and club. Herakles was the consummate hero. Temples across Greece and South Italy were dedicated to him, the son of Zeus, and Romans, who knew him as Hercules, celebrated him as a role model. With brute force, determination, and just enough cleverness, Herakles completed his famous Twelve Labors to become immortal. Herakles is readily identifiable by his knobby club and lion’s skin. The latter refers to his First Labor, in which he killed a magical beast who was ravaging the town of Nemea. The lion’s invincible hide made him immune to weapons, so Herakles strangled him and took his pelt. Gift of William F. Dunham
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 21h
Flask https://www.artic.edu/artworks/62006/
Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 1d
Amphoriskos (Container for Oil) https://www.artic.edu/artworks/143544/
Gift of Ebenezer Buckingham
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 1d
Denarius (Coin) Portraying Empress Faustina the Elder https://www.artic.edu/artworks/10056/
The front of this coin portrays the empress Faustina, facing right. On the back, the goddess Ceres is depicted veiled and holding an ear of corn. Gift of Mrs. William Nelson Pelouze
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AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 1d
Amulet of the Goddess Isis https://www.artic.edu/artworks/140911/
Gift of Henry H. Getty, Charles L. Hutchinson, and Norman W. Harris
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 1d
Abstract Head https://www.artic.edu/artworks/390/
Museum Purchase Fund
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 1d
Sestertius (Coin) Portraying Drusus https://www.artic.edu/artworks/10100/
The front of this coin portrays the politician and military commander Drusus, facing left. On the back, the emperor Claudius, who issued this coin, is portrayed facing left. Gift of Mrs. William Nelson Pelouze
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aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 2d
Ring: Hieroglyphs https://www.artic.edu/artworks/141396/
The Art Institute of Chicago
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aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 2d
Didrachm (Coin) Depicting the Goddess Athena https://www.artic.edu/artworks/5750/
Obverse: Head of Athena to left, with crested helmetReverse: Man-headed bull to right Gift of Martin A. Ryerson
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 2d
Statuette of Eros https://www.artic.edu/artworks/330/
Museum Purchase Fund
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 2d
Sestertius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Gordianus https://www.artic.edu/artworks/141764/
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the emperor Gordianus, facing right and wearing a crown of laurels.On the back (reverse), the emperor is shown wearing armor and holding an orb and a sceptre. Gift of William F. Dunham
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AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 2d
Bracelet https://www.artic.edu/artworks/829/
Gift of Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 3d
Jar https://www.artic.edu/artworks/59708/
Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 3d
Solidus (Coin) of Constantine V and Leo IV https://www.artic.edu/artworks/36648/
The purpose of the first portrait coins was to identify the ruler. The front side became a mirror of the sovereign’s self-image. The back was often used to communicate the ruler’s accomplishments or intentions. The profile portrait was used because it suited the very shallow depth and limited surface of the coin. The tiny images were carved by engravers into bronze dies, one for the front and another for the back. The coins were then struck, one by one, in a process similar to how modern coins are created today. Portraits with Royal RegaliaSince few citizens actually saw their sovereign, recognizable symbols such as crowns, robes, and regalia served to identify the ruler. This image of an emperor can no longer be thought of as a likeness of the man, but instead a portrait of kingship in the regalia of royalty. Gift of Emily Crane Chadbourne
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AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 3d
Denarius (Coin) Portraying Octavian https://www.artic.edu/artworks/9946/
The front of this coin portrays the Emperor Octavius, facing right. On the back, Emperor Julius Caesar is portrayed on horseback. Gift of Mrs. William Nelson Pelouze
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 3d
Head of a Woman https://www.artic.edu/artworks/438/
Museum Purchase Fund
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 3d
Alabastron (Container for Scented Oil) https://www.artic.edu/artworks/67444/
Initially affordable only among the wealthy, glass was used in ancient Rome to create tableware and containers for oils and perfume. In the ancient Mediterranean world, scented oils, usually olive oil based, were used more frequently than alcohol-based perfumes. This vessel is called an alabastron because objects of this shape were originally made of alabaster. To create it, an oblong, heat-resistant form was dipped into molten glass and then removed, leaving behind the core-formed glass object. The patterned exterior was created by trailing different colored threads of glass over the body of the vessel and then combing the threads with a pointed tool. Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 4d
Denarius (Coin) Depicting King Ancus Marcius https://www.artic.edu/artworks/142609/
Portraits of important people appear on local currency all around the world. The same was true in ancient Rome, which began producing its first coinage in the late 4th century BC. Early coins depicted the heads of gods and goddesses on the front side, often in profile, while the back depicted animals, natural resources, symbols, and references to historical events. It was not until 44 BCE that the portrait of a living person—Julius Caesar—appeared on coins. Thereafter, profile portraits of rulers or other members of the imperial family became the standard subject on coins throughout the Roman Empire. In the mid-50s BCE, it became common to portray ancestors that reinforced an important family lineage. The politician Lucius Marcius Philippus, who commissioned this coin, traced his lineage to the legendary King Ancus Marcius, who was believed to have lived in the late seventh century BCE. The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the head of King Ancus Marcius diademed and facing right; behind him is a lituus (curved augural staff). The back (reverse) of the coin depicts an equestrian statue facing right on an aqueduct between arches of which are the letters: AQVA MAR. Under horse, a branch tipped. Gift of William F. Dunham
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AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 4d
Coin Portraying Empress Salonina https://www.artic.edu/artworks/142984/
Salonina was married to the Roman emperor Gallienus, who reigned jointly with his father, Valerian, from 253-260, then as sole emperor to 268. Gift of William F. Dunham
aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 4d
Hemidrachm (Coin) Depicting the God Zeus Amarios https://www.artic.edu/artworks/142714/
The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the head of Zeus Amarios, facing to the right. On the back (reverse) is a monogram symbol of the Achaean League within a laurel wreath. Zeus Amarios, along with Demeter Panachaia, were the protecting deities of the Achaean League, which was first formed in the fifth century BCE as a confederation of Greek city-states in the Peloponnese of Greece. Temples to both deities were situated side by side at Aegium, in the northwestern Peloponnese, where the main assemly of the League held its meeting. A second Achaean League was established in 280 BCE but was later conquered and dissolved by the Romans in 146 BCE. Gift of William F. Dunham
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AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 4d
Fragment of a Grave Monument https://www.artic.edu/artworks/16620/
When this object came to the Art Institute, it was cracked in two. Experts even questioned whether the fragments belonged together, as they were misaligned and of different colors. Upon examination, it was found that the two parts were joined by lead dowels that had caused the skewed alignment, and that they were, in fact, a perfect match. The discoloration was caused by weathering that had occurred while the object lay buried in different areas of iron-rich soil. After removing the lead dowels, the two fragments were cleaned using high-pressure steam and both synthetic and paper-based poultices. Conservators created a special fill made of paper, resin, and marble dust to craft a seamless join. The pieces were then joined with an adhesive before filling in the crack and associated losses. Gift of Mrs. Tiffany Blake
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aicbyzantine.bsky.social
AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 4d
As (Coin) Portraying Emperor Licinius https://www.artic.edu/artworks/141509/
The front (obverse) of this coin portrays a laureate head of Emperor Licinius, facing right. On the back (reverse), Genius stands, facing left, holding a patera (dish) in her right hand and a cornucopiae in her left. She wears a modius (hat). Licinius I was emperor from 308-324. Mr. and Mrs. Martin A. Ryerson Collection