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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 39m

This is the so-called Lely Venus. Originally owned by the Gonzaga dukes of Mantua, it was purchased by Charles I in 1631 & valued at the staggering sum of 6,000 ecus (around £25-35m now). Venus is seen startled at her bath and covers herself modestly. The Crown has permanently loaned to the BM 📷mine

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

This spectacular fresco depicts Bacchus, covered in glistening grapes and accompanied by a panther, a snake and birds in front off a conical mountain (maybe Vesuvius?). I have slightly enhanced the colours for clarity. 📍 House of the Centenarian, Pompeii 🏛️📷 MANN

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 23h

He certainly is. I ran out of characters…..

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

These are two examples of the 30 existing Ain Ghazal sculptures. Discovered in Jordan, they are c.9,000 years old & are the first known example of large scale production of human forms. They are made of lime plaster & reed making their survival all the more remarkable 🏛️📷Amman Museum (L), Louvre (R)

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

They’re great right. Reckon they’re country and western fans.

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

These plaques are from an Etruscan tomb. The sphinxes flanked the interior of the doorway, while the three plaques show Greek myths - the Judgment of Paris (left), with Paris & Hermes; Athena, Hera & Aphrodite behind him; & Helen, with three attendants. This is worth a zoom 🕰️c560-550BC 🏛️BM 📷mine

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

This ruby-red amber sculpture is Etruscan and portrays a deity holding two plump hares upside down. You can make out the long ears in particular on the animal on the right. The translucence of the amber makes the colour even more vibrant. 🕰️c600 BC 🏛️📷 Getty Museum 🇺🇸

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

History through the ages. This small Roman mosaic roundel was originally placed on the floor of an early Christian church near Jericho. To preserve it from damage during the First World War it was removed and eventually found itself affixed to the north wall of St James’ church in Sydney. 📷 mine

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

This larnax (or terracotta chest-shaped coffin) was found in a Minoan tomb. They were designed to look like domestic wooden storage containers, an echo of life in death. This one has painted decoration (albeit faded) but an octopus is clearly visible - a common Minoan motif. 🕰️1400-1200BC 🏛️BM 📷mine

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

This vase depicts the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. In this segment, we see Chiron the pedagogical centaur. Rather than looking like an organic hybrid though, it appears as if a horse is growing out of his arse. 🕰️c580BC 🏛️BM 📷mine

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

I guess. They didn’t have zoos or Dave Attenborough shows in those days.

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Now rewatching. Absolutely superb series, brilliantly written, directed, cast and acted with some career defining performances. For me, the best are Purefoy as Anthony with his effortless combination of mesmerising charm and menace, and Ian McNeice as the Newsreader. But every performance is great.

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

This is one of the Hornelund brooches crafted by a highly skilled Danish goldsmith. It was unearthed in 1892 by a labourer ploughing fields in Hornelund. It was part of a valuable hoard that included a second gold clothing brooch & a thick gold arm ring. 🕰️c950-1000AD 🏛️📷 National Museum of Denmark

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Duncan Mackay @theduncanmackay.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Sometimes you see an artefact where myth, magic & reality all seem to converge… Behold, the Iron Age Torrs Pony Cap; pulled from a Scottish bog in the 19thC & dating to the 3rdC BC, the horns were still attached when found. Chariot ponies knew they were cool. National Museum Scotland #FindsFriday

Decorated bronze pony cap with long, slender curving horns

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

It’s quite amazing isn’t it?

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Here’s just one example of the beautiful jewellery made by a Minoan master goldsmith found in an elite burial on the island of Aigina. It’s an extraordinary piece with exquisite craftsmanship. 🕰️c1850-1550BC 🏛️BM 📷 mine

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

This beautiful ring is carved from a single piece of amber. It’s Egyptian and dated to the New Kingdom, so 16th-11th centuries BC. The inscription shows hieroglyphics but I can’t find any information that has a translation. Grateful if anyone knows. 🏛️📷 BM

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

It’s not mine but I couldn’t find a credit.

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This beautiful Roman glass bowl was found around Vesuvius. Its bold colours and lines make for a striking piece. 🕰️C1stBC-1st AD 🏛️📷 MANN 🇮🇹

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This beautiful Roman glass bowl was found around Vesuvius. Its bold colours and lines make for a striking piece. 🕰️C1stBC-1st AD 🏛️📷 MANN 🇮🇹

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A Roman mosaic of snails escaping a basket. 🏛️ Basilica Patricale, Aquileia 🇮🇹 🕰️ 4th century AD #MosaicMonday

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Chris Dale @chrisdaleoxford.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

In Iona Abbey OTD in 2023

Carved stone head with a drinking cup on a column in an old abbey.

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Jon Hawke @archaeohawke.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

#MosaicMonday Mosaic of the capture of Europa, found in a #Roman villa at Torre tre Teste, on a road from Rome to Paestum (Palestrina), Italy - 1st/2nd century AD - Ny Carlsberg, Copenhagen. #ancient #artwork #art #History

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

A Roman mosaic of snails escaping a basket. 🏛️ Basilica Patricale, Aquileia 🇮🇹 🕰️ 4th century AD #MosaicMonday

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

This Etruscan alabastron (or perfume vase) is made from terracotta in the shape of a (somewhat languid) rabbit. If you’ve ever had a rabbit as a pet, the flattened ears and rear legs stretched out behind (here sadly broken) indicate a rabbit at ease & feeling safe. 🕰️650-500 BC 🏛️📷 The Met, NY

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Macedonians preserved the Mycenaean tradition of burying elites with gold masks. This was made for a priestess. The decoration is detailed & exquisite, including animals on the headband. However, the disks on the eyes & plate on the mouth are confronting & final 🕰️C6thBC 🏛️📷Pella Archaeological Museum

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

These so-called glass claw beakers were distinctive art forms for early Anglo-Saxons in England and northern Frankish kingdoms. This one was unearthed at the Ringlemere barrow in Kent. The moulded glass appendages look very octopus-like. 🕰️c.400 to 600 AD 🏛️📷 BM #FindsFriday

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

That now sounds worse. Silence.

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I may have inadvertently “mated” you there.

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Haha! I’ve not seen that excavation photo before. Incredible. Thank you for sharing mate.

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Roman brooches in whimsical animal shapes were very popular with people of all social classes in the empire. This one portrays a rabbit or hare. His alarmed gaze and running stance seems to suggest he is evading a predator. 🕰️c.100-300 AD 🏛️📷 Met, NY

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

The furore over Nolan’s Odyssey seems to have died as quickly as it started. Nevertheless, the poem’s most famous story is Odysseus' encounter with the cyclops, Polyphemus. The tale was hugely popular in ancient Greek art and clearly continues to this day. This vase is from Argos c. 7th-6thBC.

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

This magnificent brooch was found in Galloway as part of a Viking age hoard of gold, silver & crystal. It remains unclear who buried the hoard & why. The silver brooch is finely crafted with sinuous interlocking patterns & the heads of 4 creatures (maybe dragons). 🕰️850-1000AD 🏛️National Museum 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 📷me

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This Coptic church was opened in 2017 in the heart of Melbourne. In its entrance lobby (on the ground floor of a large office block) is this vibrant mosaic of the holy family fleeing to Egypt. I love the donkey with his knowing glance. ⛪️ St Verena & St Bishoy, Melbourne 📷mine #MosaicMonday

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Carausius @carausius286.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

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