Trident and Tales

Greek gold coin from Taranto

Obverse: the head of a woman (often interpreted as Hera) with a small dolphin and the inscription TARA (Taranto)

Reverse: Poseidon with his trident looking down at a child, inscription: ΤΑΡΑNTINΩN

During the second half of the fourth century BCE, Taranto faced a lot of conflicts with its surrounding neighbors. Therefore, the Reverse could be seen as a cry for help from Taranto, embodied by the Tarentine boy, to its mother city, Sparta, symbolised by Poseidon.

ca. 320 BCE

Egyptian claw anklet of Sithathoryunet (daughter of a pharaoh (probably Senusret II))

Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, ca. 1887 - 1813 BCE

Roman box bezel ring depicting the Greek hero Bellerophon, riding on his winged horse Pegasos, and slaying the Chimaera

340 - 320 BCE

Etruscan kylix with two naked youths facing each other in front of a tree. The one on the left holds a wreath in his right hand and grasps the trunk of the tree in his left. The one on the right holds a wreath up in his right hand and a club in his left

400 - 300 BCE

Two small reliefs with a goat and a dromedary

2nd century BCE - 2nd century CE

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