Marble gallery

When you walk into the Altes Museum, you come directly into this domed area which is encircled with marble statues of varying ages and subjects. I just loved the way they were presented here. I hope you've enjoyed this short tour of the museum, I'm going to move on to other subjects this week. Although I might come back at sometime in the future as I still have a few nice shots from here.

Deus ex machina

We are still at the Altes Museum. Today's work is entitled Medea Sarcophagus. It was found near Porta San Lorenzo in Rome and dates back to around 140 - 150 AD. Here is more about the piece:

The relief shows four scenes from the Medea myth following the homonymous tragedy by the Athenian poet Euripides. Topics from Greek mythology were a popular motif in Rome for sarcophagus reliefs, especially when the depicted, as is the case here, wedding and death, happiness and sorrow of life.

Refurbished colossal

Here's one of the beautiful marbles from the museum's collection. It is entitled Colossal Statue with Cornucopia, Snake and Portrait of Antonious. It was acquired by the museum in Rome in the late 1700s, but dates back to around 130 - 140 AD. Here is more information on the work:

Head and statue are ancient but were combined as recently as in the eighteenth century. The portrait depicts Emperor Hadrian's lover Antonious. The attributes allow the statue to be interpreted as Agathos Daimon (protective spirit). Restored with support from ZDF and the Lions Club Berlin-Alexanderplatz.

Guardian for the afterlife

This Funerary Lion was found somewhere around Athens and dates back to approximately 320 BC. Here's a little more information on the piece:

This large lion either marked a grave as an individual monument or, together with a counterpart, was a corner figure of a monumental funerary precinct in late classical Athens. As a symbolic guardian, the lion grants magical protection from grave robbers. Its artistic quality is indicative of the commissioner's wealth.

Free at last!

The Altes Museum is, as its name implies, Berlin's oldest museum. The collection is made up of mainly old Greek and Roman marbles. I enjoyed my stroll through antiquity and will share a few pieces with you this week.

This work is called Funerary Relief of Publius Aiedius and his Wife Aiedia. It was found in Rome and dates back to around 30 B.C. Here's a little more information:

This type of relief belonged to funerary buildings of freed slaves who were given civic rights. Clothing (toga) and clasped hands (wedding ritual) proudly demonstrate the acquired social status. The realistic rendering of the portrait is a traditional symbol of dignity and virtue.

Hope you've enjoyed the tour so far. For more signs, take a look at Signs, Signs.

Old Museum

Looking up inside the dome of Altes Museum. My yearly museum card will soon expire, so I've been making the rounds to all the museums that are included. I'll have a few more shots from here throughout the week. Hope you enjoy the tour!