The “magic sphere” of Helios

Found in the Theater of Dionysus in 1866, this mystical object, dating back to the ~2nd-3rd century AD, is made of marble, shaped like a sphere, and depicts Helios, Greek Solar God.

Here He is representing a κοσμοκράτωρ, “master” or “lord” of the world. He is seated on a throne with a whip in one hand and three lit torches in the other. While the purpose of the object is a subject of many questions, many agree that it might have been used for magical rituals - perhaps by competitors in sportive and theatrical events in the theater it was found in.

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Apollo Barberini - a Roman sculpture of Apollo Citharoedus dating back to the 1st or 2nd century. It is possible that the original statue was installed in the temple of Apollo Palatinus in Rome while this might be a copy, though this is unclear.

Photo credit: F. Tronchin

Relief depicting Apollo - made out of marble and dating back to the year 175-200 A.D., this relief shows Apollo between two torch bearers. This object was found on the rear facade of the stage building of the theatre in Miletus.

Photo credit: Leonardo

Mosaic with Erotes Fishing

The mosaic, once part of a floor decoration, was excavated in Antioch, a city in Ancient Anatolia, modern-day Syria. It dates back to the Late Roman period, 2nd or 3rd century CE.

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Gold-blossomed myrtle wreath from a tomb in Macedonia (detail), 350-300 BCE.