Latest news with #Dionysiac
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Apollo Art Auctions Presents: Fine Ancient Art & Antiquities
A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available in this link. LONDON, May 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Apollo Art Auctions is proud to present Fine Ancient Art & Antiquities – The Prince Collection, taking place on 8th June 2025 at 1:00 PM GMT. The auction will be held live at our Central London showroom (63–64 Margaret Street, W1W 8SW) and online via the Apollo Art Auctions platform, offering collectors and institutions worldwide the opportunity to acquire rare and important works spanning millennia. This carefully curated sale features a spectacular range of antiquities from Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Viking, Medieval, and Western Asiatic cultures, dating from 6000 BC to 1600 AD. The Prince Collection offers not only exceptional artistry but also pieces with strong provenance and historical depth. Notable highlights include:Lot 2: Egyptian Sandstone Relief With Princess (Possibly Mut) - TranslatedThis exceptional sandstone relief of a princess (possibly Mut) and two lines of hieroglyphs to her right, comes with notable provenance and an impressive exhibition and publication history. It has been displayed at both the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art, and is featured in Dr. Gerry D. Scott III's authoritative volume, Temple, Tomb and Dwelling: Egyptian Antiquities from the Harer Family Trust Collection. Lot 3: Egyptian Granite Bust of a Goddess From the early reign of Ramesses II, this finely carved granite bust reflects the craftsmanship of New Kingdom Egypt. Notably featured on the cover of The Collector's Eye: Masterpieces of Egyptian Art from the Thalassic Collection, its published status underscores its cultural and scholarly value. Lot 9: Graeco-Egyptian Gold Coiled Bracelet with Snake FinialsA beautifully crafted gold bracelet dating to 225–175 BC, showcasing snake finials with symbolic ties to protection, fertility, and deities such as Isis. This luxurious item was likely worn by the social elite and is a strong example of cross-cultural artistry. Lot 73: Apulian Bell Krater with Dionysiac SceneA beautifully decorated vessel attributed to the Black Thyrsus Painter, depicting a Dionysiac celebration scene. This krater, once used for mixing wine, comes from the prestigious collection of Pierre Vérité, a renowned Parisian collector known for his connections to artists such as Picasso. Lot 91:Superb Greek Corinthian Bronze HelmetAn iconic representation of Ancient Greek warfare, the Corinthian helmet remains a cornerstone of any serious militaria or classical antiquities collection. This example is particularly noteworthy for its distinguished provenance, having come from Joseph Mairitsch in Vienna, renowned for his collection of ancient art. What sets this helmet apart is the presence of dual plume attachments, a rare feature that suggests it may have been worn during a victory parade or ceremonial celebration, rather than standard battle use. All lots will be available for in-person preview by appointment at our London showroom. Our experienced, white-gloved team oversees all aspects of handling and in-house global shipping. For more information, to book a viewing, or to register to bid:enquiries@ | +44 7424 994167Explore the catalogue and register online at: in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Newly discovered Pompeii fresco sheds light on ancient Dionysian rituals
The Brief Archaeologists in Pompeii discovered a large fresco depicting Dionysiac rituals in an ancient banquet hall. The frieze, dating back to 40s-30s BC, shows a Dionysian procession with bacchantes, satyrs, and a female initiate. The artwork will be open to the public as part of ongoing excavation tours. POMPEII, Italy - Archaeologists in Pompeii have discovered a new fresco, a type of mural painting, giving them more insight into the Dionysiac rituals in the ancient world. Dig deeper Archaeologists found an almost life-size frieze, known as a "megalography" in an excavated banqueting room in Pompeii's Region IX. The megalography covers three sides of the room while the fourth side opens onto the garden. The frieze portrays the procession of Dionysus, the god of wine. It also depicts the bacchantes (also known as maenads) as portrayed as dancers, but also as ferocious hunters with slaughtered kid goats on their shoulders or holding a sword and the innards of an animal; young satyrs with pointed ears play the double flute, while another performs a sacrifice of wine in acrobatic style, squirting wine behind him from a drinking horn into a patera (shallow bowl), according to Archaeological Park of Pompeii. The center of the frieze shows a woman with an old Silenus who holds a torch, indicating that she is an initiate, a mortal woman who, through a nocturnal ritual, is about to be initiated into the mysteries of Dionysus, the god who dies and is reborn and who promises the same destiny to his followers. Archaeologists have named the home with the frieze as the "Casa del Tiaso" (House of Thiasus). It's a reference to the Dionysiac procession (thiasos). They believe the frize can be dated to the 40s-30s BC, which would be around the time of the eruption of Vesuvius, which buried Pompeii beneath a thick layer of pumice and ash in AD 79. What they're saying "In 100 years, today will be seen as historic," the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli said in a news release. "Because the discovery we are showing is historic. The megalograph found in insula 10 of Regio IX provides another glimpse into the rituals of the mysteries of Dionysus. What's next The newly discovered frieze will be on public display as part of excavation tours. The Source The information in this story comes from the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, which provided details on the discovery, description, and significance of the fresco. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
