Polydeukion was one of the favorite pupils of the well-known Athenian sophist and philanthropist Herodes Atticus, who lived in Greece in the 2nd century CE. In the year 147 or 148, the young man met an untimely death, and Herodes commissioned many portraits in his...
Bacchus, or Dionysos, popularly known as the god of wine, was also a deity of fertility and vegetation–particularly of fruit trees, including the vine. His cult was one of the most widely followed in the Roman world. This head possibly once belonged to an...
This ceramic figurine depicts Bes, the ancient Egyptian god known for his role as a defender and protector. In this representation, Bes assumes the form of a warrior with distinct leonine and human features. Bes, considered one of the “domestic deities,”...
The Chnoubis amulet showcases a lion-headed serpent facing left. Its serpent form, intricately coiled, is adorned with seven or twelve rays encircling its head, sometimes arranged in pairs.The lion-headed snake design embodies the strength of a lion and solar...
Unlike cartonnage masks of the Ramesside Period, which were often custom-made with extremely personalized details, masks from the Late-Ptolemaic periods, such as this one, represent more abstract facial features. As an example of a mass-produced mask, it does not...
This limestone statue has the face of a falcon and body of a crocodile, representing the god Soknopaios. Soknopaios was an important creator deity for the Egyptians, whose name means “Sobek of Dimeh in the Fayum.” Crocodile deities were popular throughout...
This faience amulet exhibits Bes in a vigilant pose. With a blend of human and leonine features, Bes wears a feathered headdress and squats with his hands resting on his knees, leaving his phallus exposed. A hole through the amulet’s head suggests its use as a...
This 2nd–3rd century CE object is the top half of a plaster mold that was used to cast terracotta figurines of Isis or Aphrodite, or more likely a syncretistic union of these two iconic goddesses, which scholars have designated “Isis-Aphrodite.” There are three main...
A relief fragment made of limestone that depicts the Egyptian god Serapis. The worship of Serapis was made popular by Ptolemy I Soter, and Serapis is often associated with the god Osiris-Apis. Serapis was further Hellenized to correspond to Zeus by Greek traders and...
This terracotta figurine represents Aphrodite, the goddess of love. During Egypt’s Graeco-Roman period, Aphrodite held a prominent place in both mythology and religious worship. Known for her association with beauty, femininity, and romance, Aphrodite was...
