#Roman antiquities

[lionofchaeronea]

Capital of Composite Order, from Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae (Mirror of Roman Magnificence), Léon Davent after Francesco Primaticcio, mid-16th century

Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae was a collection of prints of Roman antiquities assembled by the publishers Antonio Salamanca and Antonio Lafreri beginning in 1540 to sell to tourists and collectors.

[skf-fineart]

Ancient Roman Belt with Central Medallion (detail)

About A.D. 379–395

Gold, enamel, sapphire, emerald, garnet, and glass

[er-cryptid]

Roman statue

National Museum of Denmark, Department of Classical and Near Eastern Antiquities

[illustratus]

Neptune's Horses by Walter Crane

[thatshowthingstarted]

Temple-Theater of Monte San Nicola, Casertano, Italy

Discovered accidentally by Nicolino Lombardi while flying in his ultralight helicopter, the Temple-Theater reveals a compelling story of historical intrigue dating back to the late Ancient Roman Republican period, possibly around the 2nd-1st century BC.

This remarkable archaeological site, hidden for centuries beneath overgrown vegetation, has sparked scholarly debate about whether the complex was built by Roman architects or indigenous Italic tribes like the Samnites.

Situated at an elevation of 410 meters in the scenic Sannio area, the presence of nearby tombs suggests that it fell out of use by the 2nd century AD. If the dating is accurate, the construction of the temple-theater coincided with Rome's victories over rivals such as Carthage and conflicts with local enemies.

Positioned strategically to overlook key northern routes, the complex likely represented Rome's growing power in the region.

Similar to the Samnite theater at Pietrabbondante, this structure symbolizes Rome's control over the Italian landscape, reflecting ancient rivalries and ambitions.

[666candies]

adam and eve apple. quote translates to “I am your half”

[sixteenseveredhands]

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

[howamidrivinginlimbo]

The ancient city of Pompeii, Italy

On the first photo is the bakery of Sotericus.

On the last photo you can see clay pots built into countertops in the taberna.

[the-cricket-chirps]

Bronze statuette of a dog

Roman

2nd-3rd century CE

[tragediambulante]

Antinous, XVIII century

[theantonian]

Roman marble statue of Dionysus (Bacchus), God of wine, patron of wine making.

Roman copy of a Greek original of late 4th century BC.

from The Collection of The Hermitage, St Petersburg

[lionofchaeronea]

Gold solidus of the Roman emperor Constantius II (r. 337-361 CE), minted at Thessalonica between 351 and 355. On the obverse is the bust of Constantius, wearing a pearl diadem and a cuirass with drapery atop it. On the reverse is the inscription GLORIA REI PUBLICAE above the enthroned personifications of Rome and Constantinople. Following his elimination of his last remaining rivals in 355, Constantius would greatly expand the senate of Constantinople and elevate the city to an administrative status equal to Rome's, including the appointment of an urban prefect (praefectus urbi) to govern it.

Photo credit: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com

[wandering-italy]

The Sanctuary of Apollo, Pompeii

[eirene]

Roman Courtship (details), ca. 1900

Sir William Reynolds-Stephens

[illustratus]

[memories-of-ancients]

Imperial Orb of the Holy Roman Empire, introduced in 1612

from The Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna