Nine Muses From Elis

 I'm posting this artifact found in Elis in Greece to remind people that the identification with the Muses with certain symbols isn't just a Roman or Renaissance invention.

Its interesting also to note that the artifact shows both a LYRE and a KITHARA  and also for Apollo a very old tortoiseshell lyre rather than Eratos version which has a sounding board or sound box? 

Note that there are two different types of books with both a Scroll and a folding Tablet being shown.

I think this is a folding tablet rather than an early codex because of the black pages. The black could be slate or wax with dye added ? 

 Urania is shown as a star chart. 

Despite the damage there seems to be both types and possibly a third type of theatre mask: comedy tragedy and well the third is too damaged ....Melpomene is probably a Tragic Mask but but that leaves us with the question of whether Polyhymnia is a mask or a womans face. Her image could possibly be a reference to the use of women's choirs for some events such as religious festivals with associated choral competitions open to women.

You can get a larger version of this image from Wikipedia but there are very few comments on context.

This seems to be Hellenistic to me or late Classical given the limited color range?

Greek Mosaic with Lettering.

#greekmosaic #lettering #jordan #byzantine

note the words sabbatioo+arkhi sabbath archon and presbuteroo elder / priest

A Mosaic from Olynthus

A Mosaic from the Olynthus colony in northern Greece.

The motif of 2 griffins attacking a deer originated in Central Asia and came to Greece via the Persian Empire. Perhaps the artist saw a woven carpet ?

The Unswept Floor A Mosaic

Sosus' Unswept Floor

One of the few mosaics master we do know the name of is Sosus of Pergamos famous for his work The Unswept Floor which inspired later copies.

This was said to represent the floor of a dining room after a banquet.

Notice the little mouse and the seashell. Exquisite detail on a simple background of white stones !