#hellenistic period

[thatshowthingstarted]

A Pair of Greek gold, hardstone, and enamel earrings featuring swan pendants suspended from granulated discs and decorated with emerald beads.

Hellenistic Period, circa 3rd–1st century BC.

Each: 1 7⁄16 in. (3.6 cm.) long

Courtesy: Christie's.

[lionofchaeronea]

Marble relief of the goddess Nemesis. Nemesis, whose name is related to a verbal root meaning "to apportion" "or to give one one's due," was a deity who punished acts of hubris -- overweening arrogance, a key moral failing in ancient Greek thought. She had a cult from a very early period in the Attic deme of Rhamnous, where a beautiful Roman-era statue of her has been found (now in the National Archaeological Museum, Naples). Nemesis gained in importance in the Hellenistic period, when she was connected with the goddess Tyche (Fortune): Nemesis could be seen as one who balanced out the uneven gifts of Tyche.

This marble relief dates to the 3rd century BCE (early Hellenistic period) and was found at Brindisi (=ancient Brundisium), Italy. In it, Nemesis is shown wearing the polos, a cylindrical headdress that came to Greece from mother-goddesses of the ancient Near East, and holding a phiale, a flat dish used for pouring libations. She tramples on a defeated enemy, perhaps representing hubris. Two winged figures of Nike (Victory) flank her headdress, while six others attend her, three to a side.

Now in the Museo archeologico provinciale "Francesco Ribezzo" (MAPRI), Brindisi, Italy. Photo credit: Mark Landon | Wikimedia Commons | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International

[northwestthree]

Gold armband with Herakles knot, 3rd–2nd century BCE

[blueiscoool]

Getty Acquires Hellenistic Rock Crystal Garden Ring

This exquisite Hellenistic gold ring (c. 150 BC) features a striking box-shaped bezel topped by a domed rock-crystal cabochon. Under the crystal sits a miniature “garden” scene. It contains filigree oak leaves, a granulated gold flower with enamel touches, all framed in delicate gold granulation.

The hoop itself is crafted from twisted gold wire, decorated with filigree “knobs” and a small garnet cabochon set on a Herakles knot (with additional gem settings now missing).

One of the best-preserved surviving pieces of its jewellery type, it has recently been acquired by the J. Paul Getty Museum to become part of its permanent collection.

It was first published in 1912 in a catalogue of the ring collection of the late Ernest Guilhou of Paris. It was sold at Sotheby’s in London in 1937, and less than a year later was placed up for action by a Lucerne dealer. It subsequently passed through two different private collections, and was sold at Christie’s in London this July by the descendant of the second collector. The pre-sale estimate was £12,000-18,000 ($15,745-23,618), but the ring’s quality (and the Getty’s deep pockets) drove the bidding way up. The final hammer price was £100,800 ($132,260).

The Getty plans to do the first in-depth study of this exceptional piece.

[yaellaharpe-blog]

Helmet with wings, 4th–3rd century BC. Musée du Louvre, Paris – Département des Antiquités Grecques

@Louvre Museum, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons / Inv. Louvre AGER Bj 2152.

(English / Español / Italiano)

It resembles a contemporary installation: an oxidised bronze cone, two 'wings' that cut through space, a golden crown of leaves. It is a pilos helmet with a crest holder: light and metal, power and beauty in the same profile.

Between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC, between late classicism and the Hellenistic period, Greek armour evolved towards lighter and more spectacular forms. The pilos (conical cap) replaced more cumbersome models; the vertical crest holder allowed for monumental crests or insignia that amplified the warrior's presence in parades and battle. The gold crown with plant motifs evoked honours and sacred offerings: virtue, rank and memory coexisted in a single object.

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El casco con alas, siglos IV-III a. C. Musée du Louvre, Paris – Département des Antiquités Grecques

Parece una instalación contemporánea: un cono de bronce oxidado, dos «alas» que atraviesan el espacio, una corona de hojas doradas. Es un casco pilos con porta-cimera: luz y metal, poder y belleza en un mismo perfil.

Entre los siglos IV y III a. C., entre el clasicismo tardío y la época helenística, el armamento griego evoluciona hacia formas más ligeras y espectaculares. El pilos (casco cónico) sustituye a los modelos más voluminosos; el porta-cimera vertical permite crestas monumentales o insignias que amplifican la presencia del guerrero en desfiles y batallas. La corona de oro con láminas vegetales evoca premios honoríficos y ofrendas sagradas: en un solo objeto conviven la virtud, el rango y la memoria.

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L'elmo con le ali, IV - III sec. a.C. Musée du Louvre, Paris – Département des Antiquités Grecques

Sembra un’installazione contemporanea: un cono di bronzo ossidato, due “ali” che fendono lo spazio, una corona d’oro a foglie. È un elmo a pilos con porta-cimiero: luce e metallo, potere e bellezza nello stesso profilo.

Fra IV–III sec. a.C., tra tardo classicismo ed età ellenistica, l’armamento greco evolve verso forme più leggere e scenografiche. Il pilos (calotta conica) sostituisce modelli più ingombranti; il porta-cimiero verticale permette creste monumentali o insegne che amplificano la presenza del guerriero in parate e battaglia. La corona d’oro a lamine vegetali richiama premi onorifici e offerte sacre: in un solo oggetto convivono virtù, rango e memoria.

Source: ANTICAE VIAE 

[didoofcarthage]

Gold ring inset with carnelian intaglio representing Tyche

Hellenistic Period, possibly from Ptolemaic Egypt, 225-175 B.C.

J. Paul Getty Museum

[potnialabyrinthoio95]

The seven most important ancient greek poetesses:

Telesilla of Argos, known for having helped in defending her hometown from a spartan army;

Corinna of Tanagra, known for her focus on Boeotian legends;

Nossis of Epizephyrian Locris, known for her epigrams centered on the lives and world of women;

Sappho of Lesbos, known for her love poetry, both lesbian and heterosexual, and her talent that lead people to call her "The Tenth Muse";

Anyte of Tegea, known for her pastoral poems and epitaphs for pets that became both standard genres in Hellenistic poetry and may have influenced Theocritus;

Moero of Byzantium, known for her epic poem "Mnemosyne" and her epigrams;

Erinna (birthplace unknown); known for "The Distaff", a hexameter poem in what the poetess laments the early death of her friend Baucis shortly after her marriage

Art by Sato Futaba, author of the historical mangas "Utae, Erinna!" and "Anna Komnene"

[koenji]