The Ancient World

Openwork hairnet with medallion, Hellenistic, 200–150 b.c.
Greek, Ptolemaic
Gold

Source

Mummy with an inserted panel portrait of a youth, 80–100 a.d.; Roman PeriodEgypt, Fayum, Hawara (Hawwara, Hawwaret el-Maqta; Adlan), PetrieEncaustic on limewood, linen, human remains

Mummy with an inserted panel portrait of a youth, 80–100 a.d.; Roman Period
Egypt, Fayum, Hawara (Hawwara, Hawwaret el-Maqta; Adlan), Petrie
Encaustic on limewood, linen, human remains

Mask, 10th–6th century b.c.Mexico; OlmecJadeite

Mask, 10th–6th century b.c.
Mexico; Olmec
Jadeite

Panathenaic amphora, ca. 530 b.c.; ArchaicAttributed to the Euphiletos PainterGreek, AtticTerracotta This Panathenaic amphora would have been filled with oil from the sacred olive groves in Attica, and would have been awarded as a prize to some worthy victor in one of the Panathenaic games held in Athens every four years.

Panathenaic amphora, ca. 530 b.c.; Archaic
Attributed to the Euphiletos Painter
Greek, Attic
Terracotta

This Panathenaic amphora would have been filled with oil from the sacred olive groves in Attica, and would have been awarded as a prize to some worthy victor in one of the Panathenaic games held in Athens every four years.

Lotiform Cup, Third Intermediate Period, Dynasty 22, ca. 945–715 b.c.EgyptianEgyptian faience

Lotiform Cup, Third Intermediate Period, Dynasty 22, ca. 945–715 b.c.
Egyptian
Egyptian faience

Krater with a lid surmounted by a small hydria, mid-8th century b.c.; GeometricGreek, Euboean or Cycladic; Found at Kourion, CyprusTerracotta

Krater with a lid surmounted by a small hydria, mid-8th century b.c.; Geometric
Greek, Euboean or Cycladic; Found at Kourion, Cyprus
Terracotta

Mask, 1st century b.c.–1st century a.d.ColombiaGold Lifesize hammered masks are the largest objects produced in gold in the ancient Americas. While most masks were presumably made as burial offerings, this example, with its pierced eyes, cutout mouth, and additional holes for tying at the sides, could have been worn by an individual during life in a ritual or ceremony before being placed with his material wealth in a tomb. The mask comes from the Calima River region in southwestern Colombia, where abundant alluvial gold deposits prompted a distinguished goldworking tradition that lasted for at least 2,000 years.

Mask, 1st century b.c.–1st century a.d.
Colombia
Gold

Lifesize hammered masks are the largest objects produced in gold in the ancient Americas. While most masks were presumably made as burial offerings, this example, with its pierced eyes, cutout mouth, and additional holes for tying at the sides, could have been worn by an individual during life in a ritual or ceremony before being placed with his material wealth in a tomb. The mask comes from the Calima River region in southwestern Colombia, where abundant alluvial gold deposits prompted a distinguished goldworking tradition that lasted for at least 2,000 years.

Head of a Ptolemaic queen, Hellenistic, ca. 270–250 b.c.GreekMarble It probably represents a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty—the succession of Macedonian Greeks who ruled Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. until the annexation of Egypt by Rome and the suicide of Cleopatra in 30 B.C. Recently it has been identified as the head of Arsinoë II, who ruled with her brother, Ptolemy II, from 278 B.C. until her death in 270 B.C. The queen was part of a dynastic ruler cult during her life. And, after her death, her brother made her an independent deity. She was worshiped as an Egyptian goddess in association with Isis and also as a Greek goddess, with her own sanctuaries and festivals. This strongly idealized head, which resembles classical images of Hera and Demeter, was probably associated with that cult. It presents the queen in a highly idealized manner based on the refined classical style developed in Greece during the fourth century B.C.

Head of a Ptolemaic queen, Hellenistic, ca. 270–250 b.c.
Greek
Marble

It probably represents a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty—the succession of Macedonian Greeks who ruled Egypt from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. until the annexation of Egypt by Rome and the suicide of Cleopatra in 30 B.C. Recently it has been identified as the head of Arsinoë II, who ruled with her brother, Ptolemy II, from 278 B.C. until her death in 270 B.C. The queen was part of a dynastic ruler cult during her life. And, after her death, her brother made her an independent deity. She was worshiped as an Egyptian goddess in association with Isis and also as a Greek goddess, with her own sanctuaries and festivals. This strongly idealized head, which resembles classical images of Hera and Demeter, was probably associated with that cult. It presents the queen in a highly idealized manner based on the refined classical style developed in Greece during the fourth century B.C.

Earrings, mid-1st century a.d.Sarmatian; Said to be from Olbia (modern Ukraine)Gold, sardonyx

Earrings, mid-1st century a.d.
Sarmatian; Said to be from Olbia (modern Ukraine)
Gold, sardonyx

Grave stele of a little girl, ca. 450–440 b.c.GreekParian marble Grave stelai, like this one, would have been erected in Greek cemeteries in memory of the deceased.

Grave stele of a little girl, ca. 450–440 b.c.
Greek
Parian marble

Grave stelai, like this one, would have been erected in Greek cemeteries in memory of the deceased.