Sculptural masterpieces
The motley host of male residents, ladies, kids, international residents (metics) and slaves who as soon as populated the Makriyiannis plot’s long-lived neighborhood comes vividly to thoughts by means of this myriad of private possessions. Maybe essentially the most visually spectacular shows are discovered on the finish, nevertheless, once we enter the dramatically lit sculpture gallery. There, the religious lifetime of the district’s residents is highlighted with finely carved stone statues and reliefs of Athena, Artemis, Asclepius, Hygeia, Aphrodite, and Eros, in addition to of Cybele, the protector of cities, public life and social norms.
Selene (the moon) and Hekate (darkness, magic, and guardian of crossroads) have been additionally revered, and there are bronze collectible figurines of Apollo and Heracles, too. A singular, intricately detailed ivory figurine of Tyche (fortune) of town of Athens, wears a mural crown, the image of cities, and should depict the chryselephantine cult statue in Tyche’s temple constructed by Herodes Atticus within the 2nd century AD, on Ardittos Hill beside the Panathenaic Stadium. With the embrace of Japanese deities and thriller cults throughout Hellenistic and particularly Roman instances, we’re reminded of the more and more worldwide, multi-ethnic character of Athens. Serapis and Osiris develop into melded with Zeus and Dionysus, seen right here additionally in ivory. Artemis of Ephesus and the Trinity of Palmyra (Baal, Iarhibol, Aglibol) additionally seem.
However most putting are the marble statues of Osiris-Dionysis Chronokrator, assimilated with Aion (symbolized by the coiled serpent) who represents everlasting and cyclical time, and Zeus Heliopolitanus, the patron of Heliopolis in historical Syria (Baalbek, Lebanon), god of agricultural nature and fertility. By no means earlier than has this statue sort been found in Greece. His tunic is embellished with the seven planets of the traditional cosmos – Kronos (Saturn); Zeus (Jupiter) and Hera (as an alternative of Aphrodite/Venus); Helios (Solar); Selene (the moon); Ares (Mars); and Hermes (Mercury). With the sculpted portrait of a stern-faced woman (AD 421-430), the Excavation Museum provides us a glimpse of the Byzantine empress Eudokia, Theodosius II’s Athenian-born spouse – thought to have based the primary Christian church within the metropolis of Athens, established within the courtyard of Hadrian’s Library.
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