Mithras was a god of Persian origins whose cult was immensely popular in the Roman Empire from the first century A.D. until the fourth. His worship was limited to men and the  More »

Mithras was a god of Persian origins whose cult was immensely popular in the Roman Empire from the first century A.D. until the fourth. His worship was limited to men and the cult's rituals were secret, though its chief tenet involved the triumph of a good god over death, often represented in art as a struggle between Mithras and a bull. With its aspects of promised resurrection, Mithrasism proved a strong competitor to Christianity. This superb vessel surely evokes the cult of Mithras, while deliberately avoiding direct reference to its mysteries. Even if we knew nothing of its associations, we could recognize it as an object of enormous strength and enduring power. - (P.0390)   « Less

Though it is difficult to say exactly what kind of animal this is--a donkey, horse or perhaps a sheep--there is no denying its wide-eyed charm. When the empire of Rome was at  More »

Though it is difficult to say exactly what kind of animal this is--a donkey, horse or perhaps a sheep--there is no denying its wide-eyed charm. When the empire of Rome was at its height, its plump body contained some commodity like fine oil or wine. It is possible the vessel was used as a votive offering to the gods, the zoomorphic shape standing in place of a live animal. We are captivated by the naive yet lively rendering, a quality that must have delighted its original owners centuries ago. - (P.0447)   « Less

Possessed of a delicate grace, this lovely little vessel perhaps held fine oil or balm during the Golden Age of Rome. When we hold it today we are aware of the touch of  More »

Possessed of a delicate grace, this lovely little vessel perhaps held fine oil or balm during the Golden Age of Rome. When we hold it today we are aware of the touch of ancient hands: shaping it, twisting its handle, selling it in some bustling marketplace, pouring out its precious contents. In its presence, those ancient persons--otherwise forgotten--come briefly alive. We feel the energy of their lives and we become part of the unbroken chain of history. - (P.2130)   « Less

This sturdy, simple pot once contained food or drink during the Golden Age of Rome. To the people who used it then, it was perhaps an unremarkable vessel, notable more for  More »

This sturdy, simple pot once contained food or drink during the Golden Age of Rome. To the people who used it then, it was perhaps an unremarkable vessel, notable more for its contents than its beauty. Yet, the passage of time has graced it with qualities it did not originally possess: it serves as a bridge to the past. We wonder whose hands crafted it, whose once grasped its handle and poured out its contents? As our fingers rest where theirs did so long ago, we recognize that the pot radiates with the energetic glow of those ancient lives. - (P.2809)   « Less

Possessed of a graceful beauty that still delights our senses, this superb vessel perhaps contained water or wine during the Golden Age of Rome. When we hold it today, we are  More »

Possessed of a graceful beauty that still delights our senses, this superb vessel perhaps contained water or wine during the Golden Age of Rome. When we hold it today, we are aware of the touch of ancient hands: those of the potter who shaped it; perhaps of a serving maid in some bustling roadside tavern; or of a pretty girl filling it at the well; of soldiers if the Roman Legions passing it around as they swap tales of battle. In its presence, those citizens of the Classical world, otherwise forgotten, come briefly alive. We feel the energy of their lives and we become part of the unbroken chain of history. - (P.3003)   « Less

Simple and sturdy, this urn might have held perfumes, oils or balms at the height of the Roman Empire. Unadorned yet elegant, it offers few clues to the lives through which  More »

Simple and sturdy, this urn might have held perfumes, oils or balms at the height of the Roman Empire. Unadorned yet elegant, it offers few clues to the lives through which it passed so long ago. Yet, when we grasp it in our hands today, we are aware of the connection it makes with the vanished Classical world. Who were the people who held this vessel then, what did they think, hope and dream? We can never know the answers, but in the presence of this ancient vase the imagination sets out on an endless journey of discovery. - (PF.2064)   « Less

Simple and sturdy, this juglet might have held fine oil at the height of the Roman Empire. Unadorned yet elegant, it offers few clues to the lives through which it passed so  More »

Simple and sturdy, this juglet might have held fine oil at the height of the Roman Empire. Unadorned yet elegant, it offers few clues to the lives through which it passed so long ago. Yet, when we grasp it in our hands today, we are aware of the connection it makes with the vanished Classical world. Who were the people who held this vessel then, what did they think, hope and dream? We can never know the answers, but in the presence of this ancient vase the imagination sets out on an endless journey of discovery. - (PF.2077)   « Less

Simple and sturdy, this vessel might have held an offering of olive oil, milk or grain at the height of the Roman Empire. Unadorned yet elegant, it offers few clues to the  More »

Simple and sturdy, this vessel might have held an offering of olive oil, milk or grain at the height of the Roman Empire. Unadorned yet elegant, it offers few clues to the lives through which it passed so long ago. Yet, when we grasp its handle in our hands today, we are aware of the connection it makes with the vanished Classical world. Who were the people who held this vessel then, what did they think, hope and dream? We can never know the answers, but in the presence of this ancient vase the imagination sets out on an endless journey of discovery. - (PF.2079)   « Less

Simple and sturdy, this bowl might have held an offering of honey, milk or grain at the height of the Roman Empire. Unadorned yet elegant, it offers few clues to the lives  More »

Simple and sturdy, this bowl might have held an offering of honey, milk or grain at the height of the Roman Empire. Unadorned yet elegant, it offers few clues to the lives through which it passed so long ago. Yet, when we grasp it in our hands today, we are aware of the connection it makes with the vanished Classical world. Who were the people who held this vessel then, what did they think, hope and dream? We can never know the answers, but in the presence of this ancient vase the imagination sets out on an endless journey of discovery. - (PF.2093)   « Less

This Roman two-handled pot comes from En Gedi, an archaeological site steeped in ancient history. En Gedi is an oasis on the western shores of the Dead Sea and is the name of  More »

This Roman two-handled pot comes from En Gedi, an archaeological site steeped in ancient history. En Gedi is an oasis on the western shores of the Dead Sea and is the name of the perennial spring that flows from a height of 200 meters above the Dead Sea. Biblical references to the site are numerous. In the stories about David’s flight from Saul, the desert area around the spring is called the “Wilderness of En-Gedi.” The site is also mentioned in the Song of Songs in connection with its vineyards. Various references to En-Gedi are also found in later sources from the second temple and the Roman and Byzantine periods. Moreover, documents were discovered in a nearby cave reveal that during the period preceding the second revolt, En-Gedi was a Jewish village that had become the property of the emperor and a Roman garrison was stationed there in the time of Bar Kokhba. The site was one of the administrative and military centers of the Prince of Israel. - (PF.2635)   « Less