Trident and Tales

Mycenaean bell krater with a bird (cattle egret) removing a tick from a bull's hide

1300 - 1200 BCE

Greek mirror depiction Ganymede's abduction by Zeus

4th century BCE

Greek bowl with a medallion depicting Dionysos and Ariadne on the left, and Silenos on the right

ca. 100 BCE

Roman articulated doll, made from Ivory

3rd - 4th century CE

Four graffiti found inside a Pompeian tavern

Scene 1: Two people kissing with the inscription "Nolo cum murtal" / "I do not want with Myrtale."

Scene 2: Two men getting served, the first one says "Hoc" / "Here", the second one says "Non mea est" / "No, it's mine", and the waitress responds with "Qui vol sumat. Oceane veni bibe" / "Let whoever wants it take it. Oceanus, come and drink!"

Scene 3: Two men arguing over a dice game, the first one says "Exsi" / "I’m out.", the second one responds "Non tria duas est" / "That’s not a three – it’s a deuce."

Scene 4: Continuing scene 3, two men fighting, the first one says "Noxsi a me tria eco fui" / "Cheat! I threw three. It was me.", the second responds "Or(o) te fellator eco fui" / "Please! Cocksucker, it was me." , until the owner of the tavern throws them out "Itis foras rixsatis" / "You’re both going outside. You’re fighting."

Egyptian token with an obelisk and a temple from Nikopolis

Early 1st century CE

Etruscan stamnos with the head of a Satyr

400 - 350 BCE

Greek or Egyptian rhyton with griffins

3rd - 2nd century BCE

Roman ring stone engraved with a large vase, featuring Eros and a skeleton

1st century BCE - 3rd century CE

Egyptian necklace with cowrie-shell beads and pendants in the form of fishes, beards, and a lotus flower with Heh (the god of eternity)

Middle Kingdom, ca. 2055 - 1650 BCE