AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot)

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the emperor Constantius II, facing right. The back (reverse) depicts a combat scene. Gift of William F. Dunham

Coin Portraying Emperor Constantius II https://www.artic.edu/artworks/142641/

In ancient Rome, there was a high demand for colorful glass that could dazzle banquet guests alongside the expensive silver and gold serving wares meant to impress. Fragments like this one would have once been a part of larger mosaic dishes. The ribbon pattern was made by bundling rows of parallel rods of glass, which were then fused to create swirling patterns Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

Bowl Fragment https://www.artic.edu/artworks/67573/

Gift of William F. Dunham

Sestertius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Severus Alexander https://www.artic.edu/artworks/141736/

Museum Purchase Fund

Head of a Woman https://www.artic.edu/artworks/422/

Gift of Henry H. Getty, Charles L. Hutchinson, Norman W. Harris, and Robert H. Fleming

Amulet of the God Shu https://www.artic.edu/artworks/140896/

In ancient Rome, there was a high demand for colorful glass that could dazzle banquet guests alongside the expensive silver and gold serving wares meant to impress. Fragments like this one would have once been a part of larger mosaic dishes. The mosaic pattern was made by sagging molten glass into bowl-shaped molds, a technique used on many of these fragments is similar to millefiori, “thousand flowers” in Italian, a modern glass-making method in which tiny rods of colored glass are bundled together, wrapped in a sheet of glass, fused, and then thinly sliced to reveal swirls of a flower-like patterns. They were arranged side by side, sometimes together with bits of colored glass, and fused together with heat. Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

Fragment of a Plate https://www.artic.edu/artworks/67788/

The front (obverse) of this coin depicts a bust of the goddess Tyche, facing right. On the back (reverse), is perhaps the god Bacchus (Greek Dionysos), standing and holding a ship rudder in his right hand. Gift of William F. Dunham

Coin Depicting the Goddess Tyche https://www.artic.edu/artworks/142855/

Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

Bowl https://www.artic.edu/artworks/61883/

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the head of Emperor Otho, laureate and facing to the right. On the back (reverse), an eagle, wings spread and wreath in beak, stands left on a laurel branch with a palm branch to the left. 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 BC 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. Inscriptions on coins help identify the ruler. While the front side depicted the sovereign’s portrait, the back was often used to communicate the ruler’s accomplishments or aspirations. Until Late Antiquity, portraits usually appeared in profile. The tiny images were carved by engravers into bronze dies, with one for the front and another for the back. The coins were then struck, one by one, in a process similar to how coins are created today. Roman emperor Nero killed himself in 68, bringing an end to his chaotic reign. What followed was an equally chaotic struggle over who would succeed him. The year 69 saw one general after another rule and die in quick succession: Galba (reigned June 68–Jan. 69), Otho (reigned Jan.–Apr. 69), Vitellius (reigned Apr.–Dec. 69), and finally Vespasian (reigned 69–79), who founded the Flavian dynasty that ruled until 96. The harsh character of these four emperors is emphasized by the realistic features of their coin portraits—the hooked nose of Galba, the double chin and vain curls of Otho (seen in this coin), the plump features of the gluttonous Vitellius, and the lined complexion of battle-hardened Vespasian. Gift of Martin A. Ryerson

Tetradrachm (Coin) Portraying Emperor Otho https://www.artic.edu/artworks/5775/

On the front of this coin an armed horseman rides to the right. On the back, the figure of Taras rides a dolphin. Gift of Mrs. William Nelson Pelouze

Stater (Coin) Depicting a Horseman https://www.artic.edu/artworks/9744/

Museum Purchase Fund

Head of a Woman https://www.artic.edu/artworks/368/

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays emperor Philip I, better known as Philip the Arab thanks to his birthplace of Aurantis, Arabia (modern day Syria), facing right and wearing a crown of laurels. On the back (reverse) the goddess Victory is depicted standing, facing right and holding a palm branch and a wreath. Gift of William F. Dunham

Sestertius (Coin) Portraying Philip the Arab https://www.artic.edu/artworks/141792/

Gift of H. N. Higinbotham

Bust of Scipio Africanus https://www.artic.edu/artworks/675/

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays King Phillippus I, head of king, wearing a diademed atop his thick curls.On the back (reverse), the god Zeus sits on a throne as he is crowned by the goddess Nike. Gift of William F. Dunham

Tetradrachm (Coin) Portraying King Philippus I Philadelphus https://www.artic.edu/artworks/141569/

In ancient Rome, there was a high demand for colorful glass that could dazzle banquet guests alongside the expensive silver and gold serving wares meant to impress. Artisans employed a variety of techniques to create colorful patterns like the one seen in this fragment, which would have once been a part of a larger dish. Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

Fragment of an Inlay https://www.artic.edu/artworks/67984/

Gift of Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson

Amulet of the God Nefertem https://www.artic.edu/artworks/140370/

Anonymous Fund

Fragment of a Bowl https://www.artic.edu/artworks/92644/

Gift of Joseph Rosenbaum

Jar https://www.artic.edu/artworks/119260/

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the emperor Antoninus Pius, wearing a crown of laurels and facing right. On the back (reverse), the goddess Annona- the divine personification of the grain supply to the city of Rome- is depicted standing and holding ears of corn. The prow of a ship is visible behind her. Gift of Mrs. William Nelson Pelouze

Denarius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Antoninus Pius https://www.artic.edu/artworks/10030/

Anonymous Fund

Fragment of a Plate https://www.artic.edu/artworks/92656/

Gift of William F. Dunham

Follis (Coin) Portraying Emperor Maxentius https://www.artic.edu/artworks/141675/

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the head of Emperor Domitian, facing to the right. The back (reverse) depicts an armed horseman, facing right. Gift of William F. Dunham

Denarius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Domitian https://www.artic.edu/artworks/141823/

Cast in solid copper and executed with a remarkable degree of sophistication, this statuette is thought to represent a supernatural being that served as an intermediary between the physical world and the spiritual realm. It depicts a muscular, bearded male wearing a headdress of goat horns and ears, a raptor skin over his shoulders, a cylindrical belt around his trim waist, and ankle boots with long, curved toes. His eyes are inlaid with bits of shell or stone; the now-missing pupils were probably made from a contrasting material. It is one of a pair of virtually identical figures (the other is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York) that are unlike anything else that is known today. Anonymous loan

Statuette of a Striding Figure https://www.artic.edu/artworks/206785/

On the front (obverse) of this coin the emperor Constantine I is portrayed wearing a helmet.On the back (reverse) a goddess, likely Victory, walks to the left. Gift of Mrs. William Nelson Pelouze

Coin Portraying Emperor Constantine I https://www.artic.edu/artworks/10274/

The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the bearded satyr Silenus, facing right and crowned with a laurel wreath. On the back (reverse) a bearded figure faces left. Gift of William F. Dunham

Denarius (Coin) Depicting the Satyr Silenus https://www.artic.edu/artworks/141640/

W. Moses Willner Fund

Fragment of a Stela Depicting Plowing, Harvesting, and Fowling https://www.artic.edu/artworks/64332/

The front of this coin depicts the head of the mythical hero Perseus, facing right and wearing a Phrygian cap.On the back, an eagle is shown standing with its wings spread wide. Gift of Mrs. William Nelson Pelouze

Coin Depicting the Hero Perseus https://www.artic.edu/artworks/9870/

Gift of Charles L. Hutchinson

Scarab: Uninscribed https://www.artic.edu/artworks/134454/

Gift of Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson

Amulet of a Cross https://www.artic.edu/artworks/140838/

Head pendants like this example have been found in Phoenician settlements in North Africa and the Levant. They may have been made by Phoenician glassmakers or used as trade goods by Phoenician merchants. Gift of Martin A. Ryerson

Pendant in the Shape of a Head https://www.artic.edu/artworks/132072/