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Ancient Art - Blog Posts
if an archaeologist says an artifact was probably for “ritual purposes” it means “i have no fuckin clue”
but if they say it was for “fertility rituals” they mean “i know exactly what it was for but i dont want to say ‘ancient dildo’”
Wood and faience game board with pieces, Egypt, 18th Dynasty, circa 1550-1295 BC
from The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Ancient Necklace with Mosaic Glass Beads, from the Eastern Mediterranean, c.100 BCE-100 CE: this necklace is composed of 30 glass beads, most of which are decorated with stylized faces
From the John Paul Getty Museum:
The beads are made of multi-colored opaque glass and are decorated with heads and floral designs. The necklace is in good condition; some beads are chipped or cracked.
The exact origin of this piece is unknown, but it can be traced back to the Eastern Mediterranean, where it was likely made by a Greek or Roman artist.
Each bead has a width of about 1.2cm (roughly half an inch); they're decorated with remarkably intricate details, and each face is depicted in its own unique style.
Sources & More Info:
John Paul Getty Museum: Necklace with Mosaic Glass Beads
~ Helmet of Gladiator.
Date: A.D. 1st century
Medium: Bronze
~ Wooden figure of the Anubis-jackal, with long tail.
Cultures/Period: Late Period
Place of origin: Egypt
Medium: Wood
I wouldn't want to come across these in the middle of the night, they would scare my pants off. Phoenicians/Carthaginians apparently thought so too because they placed these menacingly grinning masks inside their tombs to scare off evil spirits and guard against evil. These particular exemplars come from Tunisia, Spain, and Sardinia respectively.
Carnelian stamp seal featuring a kitty, Minoan, 1900-1600 BC
from The Metropolitan Museum of Art
details of the Ishtar Gate, c. 575 BCE, Babylon, present day Iraq
housed in Pergamon Museum, Berlin
The gorgeous Bird Mosaic from the so-called House of the Birds in Italica, Spain, features 35 different species of birds.
Terracotta vase in the form of a lobster claw, Greece, circa 460 BC
from The Metropolitan Museum of Art
~ Crab Vessel with Double Spout.
Place of origin: Colombia, Calima Region
Period: Ilama Period
Date: 1500 B.C.-A.D. 100
Medium: Ceramics