In this temple fragment, a vivid and splendid motion leaps forth the Capricorn, the goatfish whose presence is recognized in such number and variety of societies as to  More »

In this temple fragment, a vivid and splendid motion leaps forth the Capricorn, the goatfish whose presence is recognized in such number and variety of societies as to completely baffle the imagination. His sloped nose flexes its intricate musculature in tension and primitive stateliness. His majestic beard is shaped into the lean of his body against the wind- its strangled knots completely boisterous even in the delicacy and mastery of their execution. His brow is gentle and intelligent, and his eye has a benevolent curve rising into his cheek. Most interesting of all is the disparity of anatomy between his goat body and fish tail. Bulges and ripples across his neck and torso exude all of the firm strength and sturdy, explosive energy of the mammalian. But coiled beneath his scales is a completely different sort of motion, his muscle dispersed into thick coiling ropes that give him all of the dramatic grace and silent efficiency of a sea-beast. Offsetting the whimsical and feral nature of the beast, a regal and noble human presence stands to its left. The face, with its sweeping hair, its angular cheekbones, and strong wide chin, has an almost imperial delicacy atop the youthful chest that seems to want to burst out of the cuirass. Given the date of the temple’s commission, the depiction may very well be of an early member of the royal family. Tiberius, Nero, Caligula, and many other exceptionally famous and infamous characters of history might find themselves on the walls of a temple, perhaps as a gift for the dedication of its funds, or as a symbol of their predestination of Godly power.   « Less

Since the dawn of time, man has offered gifts to win the benign favor of his gods. The art of the terracotta votive reached its peak in the Hellenistic age, when the culture  More »

Since the dawn of time, man has offered gifts to win the benign favor of his gods. The art of the terracotta votive reached its peak in the Hellenistic age, when the culture of classical Greece spread throughout the Mediterranean and the near east. This charming example, probably sculpted at Alexandria, depicts Silenus, comic companion of Dionysus, God of wine and merriment. Plump, given to excesses of pleasure, but not without dignity, Silenus was a beloved figure in classical myth. This lively pendant will make ideal adornment for those who believe in enjoying life to the fullest. - (FJ.3251)   « Less

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 100 AD to 300 AD Dimensions: 6.0" (15.2cm) high Collection: Classical Style: Roman Medium: Bronze

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 100 AD to 300 AD Dimensions: 6.0" (15.2cm) high Collection: Classical Style: Roman Medium: Bronze   « Less

For thousands of years, Isis was the nurturing mother goddess of the Egyptians. The wife of Osiris and the mother of Horus, her cult focused on the fertility of the land and  More »

For thousands of years, Isis was the nurturing mother goddess of the Egyptians. The wife of Osiris and the mother of Horus, her cult focused on the fertility of the land and the promise of eternal life. With the coming of the Ptolemaic Greeks and later the Romans, the worship of Isis was incorporated with that of classical mother goddesses and spread throughout the ancient world. A temple of Isis was discovered among the ruins of Pompeii. Someone seeking the favor of the goddess offered this charming votive image centuries ago. In an elegant gold pendant, it evokes the mystery and the magic of the eternally feminine. - (FJ.3607)   « Less

This lugubrious head is believed to represent the prophet Elijah, and as such is an extremely important and rare work. Elijah lived during the 9th century BC, and appears in  More »

This lugubrious head is believed to represent the prophet Elijah, and as such is an extremely important and rare work. Elijah lived during the 9th century BC, and appears in the Old and New Testament, the Ku’ran, the Mishnah and the Talmud. Famed with the ability to raise the dead, bring down fire from the heavens and to ascend there on a whirlwind, he is also believed to be reincarnated in the form of Jesus and John the Baptist. Such was his importance that many Jews still await his return, which will presage the return of the Messiah. Despite his obvious importance to various faiths, however, comparatively little is known about him. Equally, he is rarely represented in artworks, other than in heavily religious paintings of the Renaissance. Sculpturally there are few representations worldwide, and those that exist are usually from the past 100 years or so. This piece is therefore something of a rarity.   « Less

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 300 BC to 100 AD Dimensions: 3.25" (8.3cm) high x 2.25" (5.7cm) wide Collection: Classical Antiquities Style: Roman medium:bronze

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 300 BC to 100 AD Dimensions: 3.25" (8.3cm) high x 2.25" (5.7cm) wide Collection: Classical Antiquities Style: Roman medium:bronze   « Less

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 2 nd Century AD to 3 rd Century AD Dimensions: 7.5" (19.1cm) high x 6.8" (17.3cm) wide Collection: Classical Medium: Bronze

Origin: Mediterranean Circa: 2 nd Century AD to 3 rd Century AD Dimensions: 7.5" (19.1cm) high x 6.8" (17.3cm) wide Collection: Classical Medium: Bronze   « Less

These magnificent bronze handles once decorated a Roman chariot, Rather than adorning a lightweight racing vehicles, the heavy and ornate nature of these ornaments suggests  More »

These magnificent bronze handles once decorated a Roman chariot, Rather than adorning a lightweight racing vehicles, the heavy and ornate nature of these ornaments suggests that they were originally attached to a more substantial vehicle such as a pilentum (used to transport aristocrats on state occasions), a carruca (for transporting emperors and aristocratic matrons) or even a thensa (a ceremonial chariot used to transport deities to the imperial games). More utilitarian vehicles such as the arcera would not have been so richly decorated.These fittings would have been the finishing touches to a vehicle already resplendent with the most luxurious and expensive materials and accessories available. Contemporary sources describe ornate inlay, rare woods and metalwork incorporated into these vehicles, and it is possible that these sculptural handles would originally have been gilded. The horses would have been similarly magnificent and groomed for the occasion.Venus, the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, has been a major subject of sculptural fascination for over two thousand years. Her divine roots can be traced back beyond the Classical pantheon, to the Middle Eastern and prehistoric mother goddess, and she is said to have arisen in her current form with the Assyrian civilization. She was the goddess of love and beauty, born from the sea (as depicted in Sandro Botticelli’s celebrated Renaissance masterpiece “The Birth of Venus”).   « Less

The cult of Dionysus was not easily accepted into the Roman religious system at first, creating much consternation during the Bacchanalian scandal of 186 B.C., and matching  More »

The cult of Dionysus was not easily accepted into the Roman religious system at first, creating much consternation during the Bacchanalian scandal of 186 B.C., and matching its legendary initial negative reception among the Greeks, as told in Euripides’ Bacchae. Evidently, the wild and antinomian rites practiced by the devotees of Dionysus concerned the more conservative members of both Greek and Roman society when the god’s cult first was introduced. The Romans called Dionysus by his alternate name, Bacchus, and would ultimately give his cult a place of honor in the Roman pantheon just as the Greeks did. His cult celebrated the god’s role in the creation of wine and theater for humankind, as well as his connection to fertility themes, as witnessed by his association with the god Pan, and his cult may have existed in Greece as far back as the Archaic period. - (CK.0151)   « Less

This rich red gem depicts Aequitas, the Goddess Of Fair Dealing And Justice. She holds a cornucopia, the horn of plenty, in one hand, and a balance in the other. A metaphor  More »

This rich red gem depicts Aequitas, the Goddess Of Fair Dealing And Justice. She holds a cornucopia, the horn of plenty, in one hand, and a balance in the other. A metaphor for success and prosperity through fairness, this gem may once have been worn by a wealthy businessman, or perhaps a magistrate or lawyer, at the height of the Roman Empire. Though much has changed since this gem was carved, the idea it represents is relevant for all time. Aequitas is a goddess at whose shrine mankind should always continue to worship. - (FJ.0434)   « Less