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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

A fierce #MosaicMonday with this #gladiator from the Bignor Villa. A rudarius (umpire) holds a wand of office (rudus) as he watches a fight between a secutor and retarius. 📷Gaius Cornelius/wikimedia ##AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Roman

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

A tragedy mask for #MosaicMonday. Surrounded by fruit, grapes, and garlands. A close-up detail from an ancient Roman mosaic from #Pompeii. Housed at the Naples National Archaeological Museum. 📷 Jebulon/wikimedia

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Polyphemus and Galatea in landscape for #FrescoFriday. From the Imperial villa at Boscotrecase, the Mythological Room (19). #Roman early Imperial, Augustan, last decade of the 1st century BCE. 📷Met Museum (20.192.17) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

Dimensions: H. 73 3/4 in. (187.33 cm.)
width 47 in. (119.38 cm.)

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

A slightly different #ReliefWednesday. These beautiful relief panels are dedicated to a #LlandaffCathedral architect for his restoration work (1949-75) following the war. #HistoryBlueSky #archaeology #Cathedrals #Wales

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

An inscribed dedication, in #cuneiform to the god #Enlil for #EpigraphyTuesday. From the temple of #Ishtar, Kidmuri. A #Neo-Assyrian pedestal or altar, from the rule of Ashurnasirpal II, 865-860 BC. 📷British Museum (118870) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

A limestone pedestal or altar from the Neo-Assyrian period under the rule of Ashurnasirpal II, 865-860 BC. Used to support the holy emblem of the god Enlil. Inscription is located near the top, in cuneiform.
Inscription translation: the king of heaven, . . . who dwelleth in the temple of Kidmari.
Inscription note: In the inscription, the king says he dedicates the altar so that his life may endure and his days be long, and so that his successors and his country may enjoy prosperity.
Dimensions: Height: 54 centimetres; Length: 54.50 centimetres; Width: 31.50 centimetres

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 19/09/2025

An astronomical #FrescoFriday! This fragment depicts #Urania, the Muse of Astronomy. From the House of Julia Felix, #Pompeii, 62-79 CE. Now at the Louvre Museum, Paris. 📷Carole Raddato/worldhistory.org #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #mythology #Muses

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 18/09/2025

A collection for #HelmetThursday. Tiverton Castle is home to many #armour pieces, including a lovely range of helmets, some from the #Roundheads and #Cavaliers. The castle isn't open everyday, but is well priced and worth a visit for the armour (and gardens). #HistoryBlueSky #archaeology #Tiverton

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

The Wellington reredos for #ReliefWednesday. It likely stood behind the high altar of St. John's church and was richly coloured. They were defaced at the Reformation (1540s), and later, it was taken down and used as paving around the altar. Somerset Museum #HistoryBlueSky #Archaeology

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

A lintel block from the false door of Mery's chapel for #EpigraphyTuesday. An Old Kingdom piece (ca. 2575–2520 B.C) giving some of Mery's priestly and administrative positions. Memphite Region, Saqqara, Djoser precinct. 📷Met Museum (67.50) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Egyptian

Dimensions: L. 90.2 cm (35 1/2 in.). The lintel is broken on both ends, exhibiting only part of the first title and missing the tomb owner's name.
Translation:
[jm.j-r'-zXA.ww]-a-nswt mDH-mHy.t* jm.j pr-HD pr-aHA.w, jm.j-r' jz-Hkr.w-nswt, Hr.j-zStA-pr-aA, smr-wa.tj, Hm-nTr-Hr.wj-jm.tj-zmy.t [mr.y]

Overseer of the royal document-scribes, Carpenter of the (cult image) of Mehit*, Overseer of the treasury and of the armory, Overseer of the chamber of the king's ornaments, Privy to the secrets of the Palace, Sole companion, Priest of the two Horuses who are in the desert**, Mery.

Notes on Met Website (Niv Allon 2016):

* mDH.w-mHy.t - The reading of this title is not entirely certain. The goddess Mehit already appears on early dynastic seals as a recumbant lionness with three poles extending from her back, see Godron, Gérard 1951. Deux notes d'épigraphie thinite. Revue d'égyptologie 8, 91-98.

**The dual divinity appearing in the final title of Mery is not attested elswhere. They might relate to the twin divinities of the Coptite nome or to the Northern and Southern Horus.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Returning from a week away with a #MosaicMonday from Somerset Museum. The East Coker mosaic. Showing two successful hunters carrying home a deer with their hunting dog. The hunters' clothing is typical of the second half of the 4th century AD. #ClassicsBlueSky #AncientBlueSky #Archaeology #Roman

The East Coker mosaic, c. AD 360, East Coker, Somerset. Depicted is two successful hunters carrying home a deer from a pole by it's legs, with a hunting dog below. The hunter on the right is looking towards the observer and the one of the left is looking ahead. Both carry weapons. Below the right hunters is another section of mosaic, showing a red flower, the rest is sadly lost.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

Happy #FrescoFriday! A #Pompeii piece of #Venus and #Eros from Taberna delle Quattro Divinitá (IX,7,1). She doesn't look the happiest here, I wonder what Eros has done??? 🏹 📷Roger Ulrich/worldhistory.org #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #mythology

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

A turban helmet with aventail for #HelmetThursday. The aventail is fixed with a lead seal stamped with the mark used in the #Ottoman arsenals, suggesting it passed into Turkish possession as booty. 📷Met Museum (50.87) #HistoryBlueSky #armour #history #archaeology #metalwork

Turban helmet with aventail, late 15th-16th century, Turkish, in the style of Turkman armour.
Met Museum Information: The aventail is fixed with a lead seal stamped with the mark used in the Ottoman arsenals, an indication that this example, like the other turban helmets also in the Museum's collection (acc. nos. 04.3.209, .210, .214, .457, .462; 36.25.109), passed into Turkish possession as booty with the Ottoman conquest of Iran and the Caucasus.
At least one turban helmet decorated in a style comparable to this example bears the name of Farruhk-Siar (reigned 1464–1501), ruler of Shirvan in the Caucasus. Such evidence suggests that this helmet is also of Shirvan manufacture.
This helmet was siezed by the Nazis from the collection of Baron Alphonse Mayer Rothschild (1878–1942) in Vienna in 1938 and restituted by the government of Austria to his heirs in 1949.
Dimensions: H. including mail 22 in. (55.9 cm); H. excluding mail 13 5/8 in. (34.6 cm); Diam. 10 in. (25.4 cm); Wt. including mail 7 lb. 6.2 oz. (3350.9 g); Wt. excluding mail 3 lb. 9 oz. (1616 g)

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 03/09/2025

A New Kingdom #ReliefWednesday with chariots. Discovered in the Sanctuary of the Great Aten temple, #Amarna. Chariots with spirited horses are held in check by grooms in the upper register. ca. 1352-1336 BC. 📷Met Museum (27.6.1) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Egyptian

A relief with chariots from the New Kingdom, Amarna period, ca. 1352-1336 BCE.
Chariots with spirited horses are held in check by grooms in the upper register. Scenes of waiting chariots flanked depictions of the royal family in the temple worshipping the Aten. The family had driven to the temple and left their horses outside while they worshipped. The register below depicts various attending groups also waiting outside for the royal family's return.
Dimensions: 23.7 × W. 54.2 cm (9 5/16 × 21 5/16 in.)

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 02/09/2025

A #Coptic ostracon for ##EpigraphyTuesday. Dating to the 7th-8th century AD, the inscription is in black ink on both sides. There is a mention of Abraham at the end. From the #Theban area. 📷Liverpool Museums, World Museum (M13838) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 29/08/2025

The Tomb of the Diver for #FrescoFriday. Built around 500-475 BCE and found 1968. The Diver has puzzled historians but so too has the context of the tomb with symposium imagery covering the four tomb walls. 📷PaestumPaestum (National Museum of Paestum) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

A Tibetan #HelmetThursday. An iron helmet with an iron bowl fitted with a gilded flattened finial and a supporting strap with pierced work designs. The front panel and attached viser features dragons and flaming jewels. 📷Liverpool Museums, World Museum (56.27.206) #HistoryBlueSky #armour

17th-18th century iron helmet.
Overall: 210 mm x 170 mm x 270 mm

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

A baby-feeder of black glazed pottery for #EpigraphyTuesday. With a #Greek inscription: Drink up, don't put (it) down. The letters engraved with a fine-pointed tool appear to belong to the later half of the 4th century B.C 📷British Museum (1836,0224.262) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

A black glazed pottery baby-feeder, 4th century BC. In the mouth of the piece is a strainer and the glaze is frayed in places. It is in the shape of a boat-like guttus, with a small ring shaped handle on the side and a spout at one end. A Greek inscription is on the side.
Inscription: ΓΡΟΓΙΝΕ ΜΗ ΚΑΤΘΗΙΣ, Προπινε μή κατθής.
Inscription translation: Drink up, don't put (it) down.
Inscription note: The letters appear to belong to the second half of the fourth century B.C.; they are engraved with a fine-pointed tool.
Dimensions: Height: 8.89 centimetres; Length: 19.05 centimetres

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

A theatrical #MosaicMonday, depicting actors and an aulos player. I love the presence of the theatrical masks used by the actors 🎭. House of the Tragic Poet, #Pompeii. Now, at Naples National Archaeological Museum (Inv. 9986). 📷Marie-Lan Nguyen #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Roman

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 22/08/2025

The myth of #Perseus and #Andromeda for #FrescoFriday. Perseus is about to rescue Andromeda from a snake sea monster ketos, who is painted in a brilliant blue-green palette. From the Imperial villa at Boscotrecase. 📷Met Museum (20.192.16) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #mythology

A fresco of the Augustan period, last decade of the 1st century BCE, originally from the Villa of Agrippa Postumus at Boscotrecase, the Mythological room.
It depicts two consecutive events from the myth of Perseus and Andromeda. Persesus is about to rescue Andromeda from a snakey sea monster ketos, who is painted in a blue-green palette. The creature is seen raising his head with gigantic open jaws and frightful teeth towards Andromeda. Andromeda is central with her arms outstretched. One hand seems to be chained to the crag, the other placed upon the rocks. Perseus is flying in on the left-hand side with his lyre in his hand and winged sandals on his feet. A windblown cloak passes over his shoulder. In the upper right section, he is greeted by Andromeda's thankful father. The scene alludes to the ending of the myth where the hero and princess are to be married.
Dimensions: H. 62 3/4 in. (159.39 cm.)
width 46 3/4 in. (118.75 cm.)

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

A #Burgonet #Renaissance masterpiece for #HelmetThursday. The bowl is raised in high relief with motifs including sirens, the head of Medusa, and acanthus scrolls inhabited by putti. Signed by Filippo Negroli. 📷Met Museum (17.190.1720) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #armour

A burgonet, dated to 1543. The piece is signed by Filippo Negroli, whose embossed armour in the 16th century was praised by writers as "miraculous" and deserving "immortal merit."
It is formed of one plate of steel which is patinated to look like bronze. The bowl is raised in high relief with motifs inspired by classical art. The graceful mermaid-like siren which forms the helmet's comb holds the grimacing head of Medusa by her hair. The sides are covered with acanthus scrolls inhabited by putti. This motif derives from the ancient Roman sculpture and wall paintings.
Dimensions: H. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm); W. 7 5/16 in. (18.6 cm); D. 11 1/2 in. (29.2 cm); Wt. 4 lb. 2 oz. (1871 g)

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

A #Palmyrene #ReliefWednesday. The Palmyrene god #Shadrafa is wearing a #Roman military costume with a lance entwined by a snake, a round shield, and a sword. A scorpion can be found in the background. 📷British Museum (125206) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

A Palmyrene relief, limestone votive stela. The Palmyrene god Shadrafa is central, bearded with curly hair. He is holding a lance entwined by a snake in his left hand and a round shield in his right. A sword can be seen at his back. He is in Roman military costume. A scorpion can be seen in the back on the right side. The image is enclosed in a framed edge, which has been broken horizontally and remade with cement. Underneath the image is a craved inscription.
Inscription translation: In the month Iyar [May] in the year 366 [AD 55] this stela was erected by Atenatan, son of Zabd'ateh, descendant of Toshabeb, to Shadrafa, the good god, in order that he may become patron in his sanctuary for him and the members of his house, all of them.
Dimensions: Height: 47.30 centimetres; Width: 33 centimetres; Depth: 13.50 centimetres

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

A votive stela of Usherhat for #EpigraphyTuesday. He testifies to his own good qualities and to his trust in his god (#Amun ?). He is depicted with his wife Nefertari and was a priest of two mortuary cults in Dynasty 18. 📷Met Museum (05.4.2) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Egyptian

A votive stela of Usherhat, 1327-1295 BC. In the inscription, Usherhat testifies to his own good qualities and to trust in his god, likely to be Amun. He is depicted with his wife Nefertari to the right of him (both kneeling with their hands raised towards to their faces, palms facing the text). Usherhat was a priest in the mortuary cults of Amenhotep III and Tutankhamun, suggesting the couple lived in late Dynasty 18. The complex layering of relief and the style of the figures showcase the influence of the art of Amarna at Thebes.
Dimensions: H. 42.5 cm (16 3/4 in); W. 48 cm (18 7/8 in)

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 18/08/2025

A fierce #Syrian lion for #MosaicMonday. A floor fragment piece from the 6th century CE. Potentially jumping for joy this warm Monday evening! 🦁 📷Howard Cheng (Los Angeles County Museum) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

A priest wearing an #Anubis mask for #FrescoFriday. Temple of Isis, #Pompeii. The cult of #Isis was widespread in the #Hellenistic period due to the religious links between the Greeks and Egypt. Naples National Archaeological Museum. 📷Carole Raddato/worldhistory.org

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 14/08/2025

An #Etruscan jockey type #HelmetThursday. It has two ear flaps (one of which is the original), and the lower edge is decorated with broad rope pattern topped by two bands of ornamentation. The helmet is broken at the top. 📷Penn Museum (MS1606) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #armour

An Etruscan helmet of the jockey type, made of bronze, 400-300BC. It has two ear flaps, one of which is the original. The lower edge is decorated with a broad rope pattern, topped by two narrow bands of ornamentation. This is increased at the back by the addition of lined triangles. The helmet is broken on top by a severe blow, where a crest may have been present but this is uncertain.
Dimensions: Height: 32cm; Length: 26.3cm; Width: 20.8cm.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

A bronze altar to #Rahmaw for #ReliefWednesday. A tin bronze altar, with the front panel showing three rows of standing sphinxes, set below a lightly projecting cornice around which runs the beginning of a Sabaean inscription. 📷British Museum (135324) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

1st Century BCE- 1st Century CE, tin bronze altar, cast in relief. Found Marib (potentially historic Saba).
Dimensions: Height: 20 centimetres; Thickness: 20 centimetres; Width: 75 centimetres.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 11/08/2025

The huntress #Artemis for #MosaicMonday. Depicted with her signature bow and short tunic dress. Made of limestone tesserae in the Eastern Mediterranean, c.400-500 CE. Housed at the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto. 📷James Blake Weiner/worldhistory.org #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

A 59 CE riot at the games in #Pompeii for #FrescoFriday. The event led to the closure of the amphitheatre for ten years by #Nero. Found in the house of Actius Anicetus (now at Naples National Archaeological Museum) 📷Carole Raddato #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

A fourth style fresco from the House of Actius Anicetus in Pompeii. Depicting the riot of 59 CE between the Pompeians and the inhabitants of Nuceria. The riot caused Nero to order the closure of the amphitheatre for ten years.
Now, at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Inv. nr. 112222

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

An 18th century #HelmetThursday from #Gwalior. The steel helmet has a pointed and curved-over crest and a curved tail that projects below the rim. Partially gilt, leaving panels of steel. Dimensions: Height: 23cm; Diameter: 25cm 📷V&A (3182 (IS)) #armour #history #archaeology #Indianhistory #Maratha

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

#ReliefWednesday of a procession of sea creatures heading towards Oceanus. A second century AD, marble convex frieze, of the Roman Imperial period. Possibly from Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli. 📷National Museums Liverpool, World Museum (59.148.254) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

An anatomical #votive offering for #EpigraphyTuesday. A dedication to #Asclepius and #Hygieia from Tyche in thanks, presumably for curing a leg affliction. Found at the shrine of #Asklepios in Melos (1828). 📷British Museum (1867,0508.117) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Greek

A marble anatomical relief votive offering dedicated from Tyche to Asclepius and Hygieia for a cure of the left leg. Found at the shrine of Asklepios in Melos (1828), 100-200.
The leg is shown from the knee down to the right of the relief. There is damage to the foot. The inscription is to the left on the leg in Greek.
Inscription translation: Tyche [dedicated this] to Asklepios and Hygieia as a thank offering'.
Dimensions: Height: 30.48cm; Width: 20.32cm

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

#Achilles is being discovered by #Odysseus while hiding as a girl on Skyros Island for #MosaicMonday. The mosaic was in the House of #Poseidon in Zeugma, decorating the bottom of a pool in the implivium with a waterspout. 📷Carole Raddato #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #mythology

Mosaic on display in the Zeugma Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep. Dating to the 2nd-3rd century CE.
Achilles is dressed as a female holding a spear and shield with part of his chest showing. A lady to the left of him reaches out towards him. A group of male and females surround them both. Achilles has been hidden on the island by his mother, amongst the daughters of the King, to avoid being taken to the Trojan War. Here, Odysseus finds him after tricking him to take up arms, and he agrees to go with them to the Trojan War.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 01/08/2025

A female #FrescoFriday. Assumed to be a seer predicting the birth of a male heir, she stands holding a shield reflecting the image of a Hellenistic ruler. From Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale. 📷Met Museum (03.14.7) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Roman

A fresco from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale, ca. 50-40 BCE. A woman stands looking to the left upwards, wearing long drapery with short sleeves. Her left foot sticks out at the bottom. She holds a shield from the grand triclinium in front of her, which bears the reflection of a Hellenistic ruler. She is likely to be a seer predicting the birth of a male heir. The male figure on the shield is wearing a white band that served as a crown for Hellenistic rulers.
Dimensions: Overall: 70 x 40 1/4in. (177.8 x 102.2cm)

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

A Faliscan #Etruscan #HelmetThursday. The design allowed the wearer to be seen from a distance by his skirmishes. It is one of two helmets found in a warrior grave and is decorated with geometric patterns. 725-700 BCE. 📷Penn Museum (MS850) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #armour

Dimensions: Height: 43cm; Length 8.5cm; Width: 40.5cm. Made of bronze, copper alloy.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 30/07/2025

A #Medieval #ReliefWednesday. An Italian, possibly Umbrian piece from ca. 1150. Made of Lunense marble from Carrara. The slab was originally from a lintel of an earlier, perhaps Roman, monument. 📷Met Museum (09.152.8) #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #history

Dimensions: 1/8 x 11 7/8 x 8 1/2 in. (33.3 x 30.2 x 21.6 cm);Weight: 67lb. (30.4kg)

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 29/07/2025

Gandj Nameh, Xerxes' Inscription for #EpigraphyTuesday. Found near the waterfall of Gandj Nameh, with praise to #Ahuramazda. Wrote in Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian, ca. 470. BCE. Alongside a Darius I inscription. 📷Marco Prins/ Livius.org #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Persia

Translation inscription:
A great god is Ahuramazda, who is the greatest god, who created this earth, who created yonder heaven, who created men, who created happiness for man, who made Xerxes king. One king for many, one lord for all.

I am Xerxes, the great king, king of kings, king of countries containing all kinds of men, king in this great earth far and wide, son of king Darius, an Achaemenian.

$Text inscription: baga \ vazraka \ Auramazdâ \ hya \ mathišta \ bagânâm \ hya \ imâm \ bumim \ ad â \ hya \ avam \ asmânam \ adâ \ hya \ martiyam \ ad â \ hya \ šiyâtim \ adâ \ martiyahyâ \ hya \ Xša yâršâm \ xšâyathiyam \ akunauš \ aivam \ parun âm \ xšâyathiyam \ aivam \ parunâm \ framâtâram \ adam \ Xšayâršâ \ xšâ yathiya \ vazraka \ xšâyathi ya \ xšâyathiyânâm \ xš âyathiya \ dahyunâm \ par uzanânâm \ xšâyathiya \ ahiyâyâ \ bumiyâ \ va zrakâyâ \ duraiy \ apiy \ Dârayavahauš \ xšâyathiya hyâ \ puça \ Haxâmanišiya$ A scan/drawing of the Persian inscription.

A scan/drawing of the Persian inscription.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

A fierce #MosaicMonday. #Dionysus rides a panther in this floor mosaic from the House of the Masks, #Delos. Dionysus holds a ribboned thyrsus and a tambourine and wears an ivy crown with feminine robes. Ca. 120-80 BCE. 📷Archaeological Receipts Fund #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

Floor mosaic from the House of the Masks, Archaeological Museum of Delos. Hellenistic Greek period, ca. 120-80 BCE.
Dionysus is riding upon the back of a panther in a side-saddle manner. The panther wears a crown of ivy with red ribbon around its neck and is looking towards the left to Dionysus. His mouth is open showing his teeth and tongue sticking out. The front left paw is raised. Dionysus is wearing female robes and a crown of ivy. His legs are crossed so the robe covers the right leg while the left foot sticks out showing a red shoe. He is holding a ribboned thyrsus in his right hand (a pine-cone tipped staff) and a tambourine in the right hand.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 25/07/2025

A deity holding a wine bucket and drinking horn for #FrescoFriday. A 1st century fragment from a larger painting in #Pompeii. The figure is likely a Lar, a #Roman ancestral god honoured as guardian of the family's welfare. 📷Minneapolis Institute of Art #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

A 1st century fragment of a larger fresco from Pompeii, excavated in the 19th century. The deity in the middle is likely a Lar. A Roman ancestral god who was honoured as a guardian of the family's welfare. The household shrine where they were worshipped was called a lararium. The deity is holding a wine bucket and a drinking horn and wearing a short and swirling cloak, typical features of a Lar. His pose indicates that he appeared as one of several figures in a horizontal mural within a lararium.
Dimensions: 85.73 × 46.99 cm.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

A 15th century #HelmetThursday. An #Ottoman period helmet from Turkey, made of steel. Now at Harvard Art Museums. Dimensions: 28.2 x 21.3 cm (11 1/8 x 8 3/8 in.) 📷President and Fellows of Harvard College (1985.336) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 23/07/2025

A fierce #ReliefWednesday. A fragment of a commemorative relief depicting the victories of a #gladiator. A contraretiarius against a retiarius (weighted net and trident fighting gladiator) called Improbus. 📷Carole Raddato (National Museum Rome) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Roman

A commemorative relief of the third century CE. National Museum of Rome, Baths of Diocletian. Depicting the victories of a gladiator; A contraretiarius against a retiarius called Improbus. A retiarius was a gladiator who fought with fisherman style equipment of a weighted net, dagger trident. He wore no head or feet protection.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 22/07/2025

A #Palmyrene relief and inscription for #EpigraphyTuesday. Made of carved limestone,150-200. Reading "Aqmat daughter of Hagagu, descendant of Zebida descendant of Ma'an. Alas!" The woman an example of 'Palmyra beauty.' 📷British Museum (102612) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

A carved limestone bust from a Palmyrene funeral relief. The woman is wearing a veil of matronhood, and above her chiton, a mantle is pinned to her right shoulder by a circular buckle. She is wearing a triple necklace and a chain with a plate on the breast, a fillet is on her brows. Her right hand holds her veil and the left the mantle around the waist. An inscription is in the top left.
Inscription, Palmyrene, 3 lines.
Inscription translation: Aqmat daughter of Hagagu, descendant of Zebida descendant of Ma'an. Alas!
Dimensions: Height: 51 centimetres; Thickness: 24 centimetres; Width: 42 centimetres

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

A collection of geometric floor mosaics for #MosaicMonday. The Villa of #Theseus Bath Complex. Apoditerium, frigidarium, cella unctuaria.Second half of the 2nd century CE, Cyprus. Paphos, Archaeological Park. 📷Olga Lyubimova/ancientrome.ru #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

#FrescoFriday of Iphigenia with the Palladium. A mid 1st Century CE piece. Now in Castellammare di Stabia, Villa San Marco, room 30 (diaeta) adjoining the large portico. 📷Sergey Sosnovskiy/ancientrome.ru #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #mythology #MountVesuvius

Villa San Marco is one of the most extensively excavated sites of Stabiae but is largely unknown by tourists. It was discovered first by the Bourban Dynasty 1750-1754 and again in the 1950s. It is well preserved by ash and pumice debris from the 79 AD explosion of Mount Vesuvius.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Electrotype for #HelmetThursday of Meskalamdug's helmet. Hammered from a single sheet of 18 carat gold. Features in relief and details engraved. Original in Baghdad. U.10000. Fragments of interior stuffing were found. 📷(Penn Museum 29-22-2) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #NearEastern

Electrotype reproduction of gold helemet of Meskalamdug. Hammered up from a single sheet of 18 carat gold with features in relief and details engraved. Into the interior was fitted a quilted cap, fragments of whose cloth and wool stuffing were found. The cloth was brought up on the outside as a protection, and secured by laces passed through holes around the rim. The ears are pierced to allow hearing.
Original in Baghdad. U.10000
Dimensions: Height 22.7cm; Length 27cm; Width 21cm.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

A #Caracalla #ReliefWednesday. Julia Domna, in the guise of Victory, crowns her son. A military trophy stands next to him, and two captives are crouching underneath. The piece likely originates from Syria. 📷National Museum of Warsaw. #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Roman

A marble relief, AD 215-216. Less than a metre square in size. Julia Domna on the right is in the guise of Victory crowning her son Caracalla to the left. She is wearing close clinging drapery that gathers under her belly button and wraps round her right arm which is holding a palm tree branch, a symbol of Victory. Her left arm is upon Caracalla's head placing the crown upon him. Caracalla stands in official uniform with his left arm outstretched and placed on a military statue next to him. Beneath the statue are two captives crouching.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

A #Roman altar for #EpigraphyTuesday. Made of buff sandstone with a dedication to Mars Belatucadrus. The capital has a flat cabled border enclosing the inscription and the die is enclosed by horizontal incised lines. 📷British Museum (1868.1004.1) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology

A buff sandstone Roman altar dedicated to Mars Belatucadrus. A Romano-British piece found in Old Penrith (Cumbria).
It has a flat top and no focus. The capital (top section) has a flat cabled border enclosing the inscription. The capital is then divided from the die (middle section) by three horizontal incised lines. The die is also divided from the base in the same manner. The base and sides are plain.
Inscription (Latin): DEAO | MARTI | BELATVCAD | RO ET NVMI | NIB AVG | IVLIVS AV | GVSTALIS | ACTOR IVL LV | PI PR ET
Inscription transliteration: Deo / Marti / Belatucad/ro et Numi/nib(us) Aug(ustorum) / Iulius Au/gustalis / actor Iul(i) Lu/pi pr(a)ef(ecti)
Inscription translation: To Mars Belatucadrus and to the Deities of the Emperors Julius Augustalis, actor of Julius Lupus, the prefect, (set this up).
Dimensions: Height: 76.20 centimetres; Width: 48.30 centimetres

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

A rediscovered #MosaicMonday. This luxury mosaic was from Caligula's pleasure barges, but 'disappeared' in WWII. In 2013 it was rediscovered as a coffee table in a Manhattan apartment. It is now at the Museum of Roman Ships in Nemi 📷 Nick Squires #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Roman

An interesting blog on the rediscovery of the mosaic: https://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/60947

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 11/07/2025

On this warm #FrescoFriday, I am left wishing I, too, could stand on a balcony gazing into the distance. A small fragmentary piece but a lovely one none the less. 📷Getty Museum (96.AG.172) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #Roman

Fresco fragment of the Second style, 10 BCE — 14 CE. Woman on a balcony. The young woman stands on a balcony and looks into the distance. She is wearing a loose fitting sleeved tunic which is cinched at the waist and a green sakkos (cap). She is sipping from a shallow cup in her right hand and a oinochoe is balanced on the balcony railing. Broad bands of black and red frame the scene to the left and additional bands are shown below the balcony. At first it seems as though the artist neglected to depict the figure’s legs behind the railing; however, some brushstrokes in the appropriate interstices may suggest that her lower body was once depicted but has almost entirely vanished.
Dimensions: 60 × 45.2 × 3 cm.

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

An electrotype #HelmetThursday. Part of a suit of armour belonging to Ascanio Sforza Pallavicino. His device is on either side in a floral diaper. #Italian #16thcentury copy of a Milanese helmet from Elkington and Co. 📷V&A Museum (30.11.18) #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #HistoryBlueSky #armour

Gallery label taken from V&A Museum website: Electrotype of
Burgonet (helmet), 16th century
Elkington & Co., 1884
High on the Museum’s list of collections identified for copying were the treasures of the Kremlin, Tsarskoye-Selo and the Hermitage in Russia. This copy of a Milanese helmet, bearing the crest of the Sforza-Pallavicino family, replicates one of 29 pieces of armour moulded in March 1881 by Alexander Sarti, Elkington’s chief mould-maker. The gilding on the copy differs slightly from the original, giving it a uniqueness of its own.
Electroformed copper,
partly electrogilt and oxydised
London, England
Museum no. Repro.1884-56
Dimensions: Height: 29.3cm; Width: 21cm; Depth: 33cm

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Hannah Okon @han-okon.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

A fragmentary relief sculpture of Jupiter Dolichenus in yellow sandstone. Found in a short Antonine ditch outside Croy Hill fort. 📷National Museums Scotland (X.FV 47 A&B) #AncientBlueSky #ClassicsBlueSky #archaeology #ReliefWednesday

Romano-British relief fragments in yellow sandstone. Depicting two figures upon two (possibly) cows. The male figure wears a tunic, a kilt of leather flaps, and a sword is slung behind him. Below is a frame with an inscription.

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