The Ai Khanum Satyr a further note

Not seen Hidden treasures from Afghanistan yet?

Something blurbs online elsewhere havn't made clear and that is not clear in the photograph. This was actually some kind of spout for rain water probably? The artisan very cleverly and beautifully has made use of the satyr motif to create a useful object that is also a sculpture and an ornament.

I know its also described as the kitchen servant the old man and other descriptions but take a look at this ... at the head.

Hidden treasures closes June 15 See it if you can!

Lost treasures from ...where?

This first lost treasure is Hellenic or Hellenistic but wasn't discovered in Greece.

Some writers think it depicts a kitchen slave character from a Greek comedy and certainly it looks like a theatre mask or a decoration inspired by one since there are no eyeholes.

So where is this from?

Ai Khanoum in Afghanistan!

There's currently a wonderful show on at the Art Gallery of NSW of Lost Treasures from Afghanistan which I havnt seen yet due to having a broken arm.

Ai Khanoum is thought to have been Alexandria on the Oxus mentioned by the geographers.

Here's a map. Sadly the site was been damaged by fighting between the Russians and Afghans since it was studied by  French archaeologists but here's a map.

Finally a coin showing Eucratides. Thats probably a helmet even if it does like a lot like a flattened version of a pith hat although perhaps he just preferred hats to wreaths ?