Medallion painting of Venus Aphrodite with a golden diadem and scepter, pearl earrings and necklace, House of Marcus Fabius Rufus, Pompeii. 1st century BC

Cypriot, Head of a bearded man, 5th century BC (source).

Lararium in the House of the Skeleton, Herculaneum, Italy.

Photography © Luis Adrián Rojas Yáñez

Roman Mosaic, 5th century CE

Bronze as minted by the Roman emperor Hadrian (r. 117-138 CE) between 134 and 138, to mark his visit in 130 to the province of Egypt. On the obverse, the bust of Hadrian, showing the Greek-style beard for which he was known; he is identified here as P(ATER) P(ATRIAE). On the reverse, an allegory of Egypt. The personified province reclines, her right hand holding a sistrum, the rattle often borne by the goddess Isis. Her left elbow rests on a basket of grain, representing the vital role of Egypt in supplying grain to Rome. At her feet, an ibis, symbol of the god Thoth, sits atop a column. Photo credit: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. http://www.cngcoins.com

Ancient Greek Word of the Day

τρόπος | tropos (from τρέπω, "turn, divert") — way, course, direction; habit, custom, manner of speaking, a person's attitude, character or temperament; a recurring motif or figure of speech; a mode or style in music, poetry or philosophy; the moment at which an army routs on the battlefield

Ancient Greek Word of the Day

γαλήνη | galene (from Proto-Indo-European *gelh-, "cheerfulness") — a state of serenity or peacefulness in the weather, particularly still winds and calm seas; the stillness of the deep water of the sea

Apollon Kitharodos, Pompeii

Bronze copy of a Greek original

Second half of the 1st century BC.

Archaeological Museum of Naples

(Quote from Elena Koumpenaki)

Ancient Greek Word of the Day

πικρός | pikros (from Proto-Indo-European *peyk-, "hew, cut out") — pointed or sharp, something that is penetrating to the senses, such as tastes that are bitter or acidic, pungent smells, or sounds that are shrill or piercing; may also refer to someone that is vindictive, spiteful or antagonistic

Gold rings with aquamarine gems, Roman, 1st century AD

from The State Museums of Berlin

Ancient Greek Word of the Day

γένεσις | genesis (from γίγνομαι, "come into being") — beginning, origin, birth; the act of creation; a living creature or sentient being

Ancient Greek Word of the Day

πόλις | polis (from Proto-Indo-European *tpelH-, "fortified place") — city, town or settlement [comprising the physical structures as well as the surrounding territory]; city-state, nation, one's country or state [comprising the laws, institutions and civic structures that define it]

Mosaic with geometric designs, Roman, 3rd-4th century AD

from Dumbarton Oaks

Athena

Roman copy of the 1st century AD.

Museum of Antiquities, Munich.

The god Dionysos, holding a kantharos (two-handled drinking cup) in his right hand and a grapevine in his left. Side A of an Attic red-figure amphora attributed to the Berlin Painter and dated between 490 and 480 BCE. Found at Vulci; now in the Louvre.

Ancient Greek Word of the Day

σκέψις | skepsis (from σκέπτομαι, "look at, consider") — examination, inquiry, investigation; a discernment or perception of the senses; a resolution or decree [when issued by a political body]

Head of Antinous

Discovered in 1878 in Cairo. Date: AD 130-138.

Pergamon Museum, Berlin.