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AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot)

@aicbyzantine.bsky.social

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Sharing artworks from the Art Institute of Chicago's Ancient and Byzantine Art department. Automated thanks to @andreitr.bsky.social and @botfrens.bsky.social

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AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 2h

Vessel www.artic.edu/artworks/136358

Gift of Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 3h

Hemidrachm (Coin) Depicting the God Zeus Amarios www.artic.edu/artworks/142719

The front (obverse) of this coin depicts the head of Zeus Amarios, facing to the right. On the back (reverse) is a monogram symbol of the Achaean League within a laurel wreath.
Zeus Amarios, along with Demeter Panachaia, were the protecting deities of the Achaean League, which was first formed in the fifth century BCE as a confederation of Greek city-states in the Peloponnese of Greece. Temples to both deities were situated side by side at Aegium, in the northwestern Peloponnese, where the main assemly of the League held its meeting. A second Achaean League was established in 280 BCE but was later conquered and dissolved by the Romans in 146 BCE.

Gift of William F. Dunham

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 6h

Sestertius (Coin) Portraying Julia Mamaea www.artic.edu/artworks/141724

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the bust of Julia Mamaea, the mother of Roman Emperor Alexander Severus, facing to the right, draped, and diademed. On the back (reverse), the goddess Felicity is seated to the left with a caduceus and horn of plenty.
Coins recorded the ever-changing hairdos of the royal ladies in Rome and carried the new fashions to the far corners of the empire.

Gift of William F. Dunham

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 21h

Coin Portraying Emperor Licinius www.artic.edu/artworks/10246

On the front (obverse) of this coin, the emperor Licinius is portrayed facing right.
On the back (reverse), a legionary eagle is shown standing on and flanked by standards.

Gift of Mrs. William Nelson Pelouze

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 23h

Ear Stud or Bead www.artic.edu/artworks/141269

The hieroglyph for flourishing used in writing the name of the goddess Uto.

The Art Institute of Chicago

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Scarab: Two Seated Deities www.artic.edu/artworks/134199

Gift of Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Sestertius (Coin) Portraying King Philip II www.artic.edu/artworks/141793

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays King Phillip II of Macedon, facing right.On the back (reverse) he is shown walking to the right, armed with a sceptre or spear and holding an orb.

Gift of William F. Dunham

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Mortar www.artic.edu/artworks/136338

Gift of Henry H. Getty, Charles L. Hutchinson, Robert H. Fleming, and Norman W. Harris

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Fragment of a Bowl www.artic.edu/artworks/67669

In ancient Rome, there was a high demand for colorful glass that could dazzle banquet guests alongside the expensive silver and gold serving wares meant to impress. Fragments like this one would have once been a part of larger mosaic dishes. The mosaic pattern was made by sagging molten glass into bowl-shaped molds, a technique used on many of these fragments is similar to millefiori, “thousand flowers” in Italian, a modern glass-making method in which tiny rods of colored glass are bundled together, wrapped in a sheet of glass, fused, and then thinly sliced to reveal swirls of a flower-like patterns. They were arranged side by side, sometimes together with bits of colored glass, and fused together with heat.

Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Fragment of a Revetment Depicting Fish Scales www.artic.edu/artworks/67861

In ancient Rome, there was a high demand for colorful glass that could dazzle banquet guests alongside the expensive silver and gold serving wares meant to impress. Fragments like this one would have once been a part of larger mosaic dishes. The mosaic pattern was made by sagging molten glass into bowl-shaped molds, a technique used on many of these fragments is similar to millefiori, “thousand flowers” in Italian, a modern glass-making method in which tiny rods of colored glass are bundled together, wrapped in a sheet of glass, fused, and then thinly sliced to reveal swirls of a flower-like patterns. They were arranged side by side, sometimes together with bits of colored glass, and fused together with heat.

Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Bracelet www.artic.edu/artworks/832

Gift of Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Amphoriskos (Container for Oil) www.artic.edu/artworks/614

Located on the narrow isthmus that joins the Greek mainland and the Peloponnese, with natural harbors facing east and west, Corinth was the major port of trade in Greece for most of the Archaic period (700–480BC). Producers exported scented oil around the Mediterranean in terra-cotta containers like this one known as an amphoriskos, literally a "little amphora," that survive today in the thousands

Gift of Charles L. Hutchinson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Kylix (Drinking Cup) www.artic.edu/artworks/4182

Gift of John Astley-Cock

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Fragment of an Inlay www.artic.edu/artworks/67845

In ancient Rome, there was a high demand for colorful glass that could dazzle banquet guests alongside the expensive silver and gold serving wares meant to impress. Fragments like this one would have once been a part of larger mosaic dishes. The mosaic pattern was made by sagging molten glass into bowl-shaped molds, a technique used on many of these fragments is similar to millefiori, “thousand flowers” in Italian, a modern glass-making method in which tiny rods of colored glass are bundled together, wrapped in a sheet of glass, fused, and then thinly sliced to reveal swirls of a flower-like patterns. They were arranged side by side, sometimes together with bits of colored glass, and fused together with heat.

Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Bottle www.artic.edu/artworks/67458

Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Aeginetic Stater (Coin) Depicting a Chimera www.artic.edu/artworks/9731

The front (obverse) of this coin depicts a mythical creature called a Chimera. On the back (reverse) a flying dove is encircled by a wreath of leaves.

Gift of Mrs. William Nelson Pelouze

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Statuette of the God Osiris Seated www.artic.edu/artworks/136583

Gift of Henry H. Getty, Charles L. Hutchinson, and Norman W. Harris

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Sestertius (Coin) Portraying Emperor Severus Alexander www.artic.edu/artworks/141729

Gift of William F. Dunham

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Bracelet www.artic.edu/artworks/823

Gift of Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Coin Depicting the God Apollo www.artic.edu/artworks/142772

Gift of William F. Dunham

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Ring: Oval www.artic.edu/artworks/141256

The Art Institute of Chicago

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Ring: Neferkheprure-Waenre (Akhenaton) www.artic.edu/artworks/141180

The Art Institute of Chicago

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Amulet of a Female Sphinx www.artic.edu/artworks/141266

The Art Institute of Chicago

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Coin Depicting the Hero Herakles www.artic.edu/artworks/142949

Gift of William F. Dunham

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Aureus (Coin) Portraying Emperor Hadrian www.artic.edu/artworks/182871

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Bottle www.artic.edu/artworks/49055

Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Coin Portraying Emperor Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus (Maximian or Maximianus I) www.artic.edu/artworks/10226

On the front (obverse) of this coin, the emperor Maximianus is shown facing right and wearing a crown.
On the back (reverse), the goddess of peace stands holding the diminutive figure of Victory on a globe.

Gift of Mrs. William Nelson Pelouze

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Coin Depicting the God Apollo www.artic.edu/artworks/142829

Gift of William F. Dunham

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Amulet of a Hawk www.artic.edu/artworks/135859

Gift of Charles L. Hutchinson, Henry H. Getty, and Norman W. Harris

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Alabastron (Container for Scented Oil) www.artic.edu/artworks/43347

The flaring rims of these alabastra functioned as applicators to spread the thick, scented oil over the skin. The vessels themselves fit comfortably in the user's hand.

Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Harness Ring www.artic.edu/artworks/196472

This precious bronze object is a votive, or devotional gift, made as an offering to the gods. They come in many forms, such as animals, beads and brooches. Many seem once to have been attached to something else. Votives were hung from sacred trees or placed in sanctuaries around Greece. Once a shrine was full, the votives were ceremonially buried to make room for more offerings.

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Alexander

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Ewer www.artic.edu/artworks/65602

Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Plaque: Amun Re, Good of Praise/ Amunhotep Ruler of Thebes www.artic.edu/artworks/133897

Gift of Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Head of a Woman www.artic.edu/artworks/377

Museum Purchase Fund

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Head From a Sarcophagus www.artic.edu/artworks/136743

Gift of Henry H. Getty, Charles L. Hutchinson, Robert H. Fleming, and Norman W. Harris

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Fragment of a Bowl www.artic.edu/artworks/92562

Anonymous Fund

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Denarius (Coin) Portraying Ahenobarbus www.artic.edu/artworks/111010

On the front of this coin Ahenobarbus is portrayed facing right.
On the back the prow of a ship is surmounted by a trophy.

Gift of Martin A. Ryerson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Fragment of a Man www.artic.edu/artworks/398

Museum Purchase Fund

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Tetradrachm (Coin) Portraying King Antiochus I Soter www.artic.edu/artworks/141565

The Hellenistic period spans the nearly three hundred years between the death of Alexander the Great of Macedonia (323 B.C.) and that of Cleopatra VII of Egypt (30 B.C.), a descendant of one of Alexander’s generals. The term Hellenistic is derived from Hellas, an ancient Greek word for Greece. It is used to describe both chronologically and culturally the era following Alexander’s conquest of Egypt and Asia, which resulted in the spread of Greek culture across a vast area. The melding of local and Greek artistic styles with the luxurious materials captured in the conquered lands resulted in magnificent artwork, including elegant coinage.
Following Alexander’s death, his empire was divided among his generals, who established independent kingdoms in Egypt; Persia; the eastern coast of the Aegean Sea, including Syria and Palestine; Greece and Macedonia; and Thrace. Almost immediately the generals began to covet each other’s land and power.
The kingdom that Alexander’s general, Seleucus, pieced together from the old Persian Empire was enormous, but fragile. No sooner had his son Antiochos (r. 281–261 B.C.) inherited the kingship from his father than territories pulled away to form independent fiefdoms. To add to his struggles, he had to fight off an invasion of barbarian Goths, which earned him his nickname Soter (Greek for savior).

Gift of William F. Dunham

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Coin Portraying Emperor Constantius II www.artic.edu/artworks/142626

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the emperor Constantius II, facing right and wearing a diadem.On the back (reverse) a type of military standard called a labarum is flanked by two soldiers.

Gift of William F. Dunham

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Wall Fragment from a Tomb Depicting a Herdsman www.artic.edu/artworks/134386

W. Moses Willner Fund

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Coin Portraying Empress Faustina the Younger www.artic.edu/artworks/10167

The front of this coin portrays the empress Faustina the Younger, facing right.
On the back, the goddess Juno is shown standing with a peacock.

Gift of Mrs. William Nelson Pelouze

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Amphoriskos (Container for Oil) www.artic.edu/artworks/45717

Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Amulet of the God Thoth www.artic.edu/artworks/140951

Gift of Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Solidus (Coin) Portraying Emperor Julian II www.artic.edu/artworks/5717

On the back of this coin, the Emperor Julian is portrayed marching right, dragging a captive by the hair and holding a trophy.

Gift of Martin A. Ryerson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Statuette of Wesir-nakht www.artic.edu/artworks/64354

This statue demonstrates the permanence of Egyptian artistic styles. The man’s kilt, his broad collar, and even the style of his wig deliberately copy earlier styles, which harken back more than 2000 years. Wesirnakht is portrayed kneeling before a god with his arms on his thighs in a pose of reverence.

W. Moses Willner Fund

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Fragment of a Plate www.artic.edu/artworks/67834

In ancient Rome, there was a high demand for colorful glass that could dazzle banquet guests alongside the expensive silver and gold serving wares meant to impress. Fragments like this one would have once been a part of larger mosaic dishes. The mosaic pattern was made by sagging molten glass into bowl-shaped molds, a technique used on many of these fragments is similar to millefiori, “thousand flowers” in Italian, a modern glass-making method in which tiny rods of colored glass are bundled together, wrapped in a sheet of glass, fused, and then thinly sliced to reveal swirls of a flower-like patterns. They were arranged side by side, sometimes together with bits of colored glass, and fused together with heat.

Gift of Theodore W. and Frances S. Robinson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Scarab: Scarab Beetle with Hieroglyphs (wedjat eyes, nfr-signs, nbw-sign) www.artic.edu/artworks/134335

Gift of Henry H. Getty and Charles L. Hutchinson

000

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Portrait Head of a Philosopher www.artic.edu/artworks/7749

The Roman emperor Hadrian (r. A.D. 117–38), who embraced Greek intellectual pursuits, popularized the beard among men young and old, who had previously been clean-shaven. The beard quickly became a fashionable style as well as a sign of one’s interest in classical learning, leading elite Roman men to have themselves portrayed in the guise of philosophers. This portrait of an unidentified man, who wears a full beard and a hairstyle of wavy locks over his forehead, resembles portraits of the Greek philosopher Plato. The introspective eyes, with their heavy lids and drilled pupils, also contribute to the sitter’s intellectual demeanor.

A. A. Sprague Fund

AIC: Ancient and Byzantine Art (Bot) @aicbyzantine.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

As (Coin) Portraying Germanicus www.artic.edu/artworks/141685

The front (obverse) of this coin portrays the head of Germanicus, facing to the right. On the back (reverse), an inscription is shown.

Gift of William F. Dunham

000