New in the Galleries: Saul and Gladys Weinberg Gallery of Ancient Art

Portrait of an Empress

This portrait is yet unidentified but heads in the Museo Nazionale in Rome and the British Museum in London, both identified as Herennia Etruscilla, wife of the emperor Trajan Decius (reigned 249–251), bear a very close resemblance to this one. Though the tall diadem indicates the woman’s imperial status, a large hole in the crown of the head might indicate the attachment of a cult symbol. The size of the hole seems to indicate a heavy attachment, probably in metal or stone. Another third-century, female portrait, now in the Capitoline Museum in Rome, bears a similar cutting. That portrait was found in the Sanctuary of Jupiter Dolichenus on the Aventine in Rome. The popularity of the cult of Jupiter Dolichenus was at its peak in the mid-third century during Trajan Decius’ reign.

Mercury (Hermes)

Mercury was the god of traders, travelers, and mercantile activity. He is depicted in art as a young, unbearded man wearing a traveler’s broad-brimmed sun hat (petasos) and sandals (sometimes winged), and he carries the herald’s staff (caduceus). Often, he carries a purse, a traveling necessity as well as one appropriate for trade. His name “mercury” is related to the Latin word for merchant and trading (merx, mercari). His cult, probably introduced to Italy in the 5th century B.C.E., is an example of early Greek commercial influence. Mercury also had a reputation for being a cunning trickster who moved with lightning speed. His swiftness was an appropriate characteristic for his other role as messenger of the gods

Victory (Nike)

Nike was a Greek goddess, daughter of the Titans Pallas and Styx, whom the Romans adopted and called Victoria. She ultimately became an abstract symbol of victory associated with victory in athletics, beauty, poetry, drama competitions, battles, and even victory over death. In art, she is depicted as a winged female figure who often holds a wreath to crown winners. In Roman thought, this goddess was particularly associated with peace that followed military victory.

Jupiter or Neptune (Zeus or Poseidon)

Jupiter/Zeus was the supreme god, king of all gods and men. In Roman culture, Jupiter was specifically the god of weather and arbiter of divine justice who protected the sacred laws of the state. In art, he is depicted as a mature, bearded man, often holding a scepter (a symbol of power) or a lightning bolt (his weapon). Neptune was the brother of Jupiter and god of the sea, earthquakes, horses and ships. Neptune is also shown as a mature, bearded man, sometimes holding a trident (a three-pronged fishing spear). Without their characteristic attributes, as in the figurine here, it is often difficult to distinguish between these two gods. The bearded, fatherly appearance of these gods influenced medieval and Renaissance images of God the Father.

Quatrefoil Fibula

This quatrefoil (four-lobed) fibula belongs to the culture of the Villanovans, early inhabitants of Italy (ca. 1000–700 B.C.E.) who were renowned for their metalworking skills. In the 8th c. B.C.E., metal objects were prized possessions and marked social status. Fibulae were dress pins, used to fasten cloaks or other garments. This elaborate example probably formed part of the funerary dress of an elite woman. The embossed circles might symbolize the sun, while bird iconography is found in funerary contexts. Fastening this fibula to a garment by its large, single clasp would probably have torn the cloth. Scholars thus suggest that these unwieldy pins were attached to small rings sewn into the cloth.