Dickinson College Commentaries

Edgar Degas, Sémiramis construisant Babylone

Queen Semiramis stands (just left of center) on a terrace gazing left, across a river, toward the city of Babylon under construction. Behind her and slightly to the right stands a cluster of four women attendants. In the deep background behind the attendants stand 3 or 4 other figures and some trees. One woman crouches directly behind Semiramis near a small basket of flowers. To the right of her is a horse and chariot, its reins held by another woman facing away from the viewer.

Roman Silver Wine Cup

Two-handled silver cup with relief decoration depicting a scene from Odyssey 11.26-42. Odysseus is shown holding a sword up in his right hand. He looks to his left toward a tree. At Odysseus's feet lies the ram he has just sacrificed to summon the dead. To Odysseus's right sits the spirit of the seer Teiresias sits on a rock.

Roman banquet couch frame (restored)

Wooden bed frame of a Roman banquet couch. The scrolled arm rests at either end are decorated with bronze fittings in the shop of lions' heads. The legs are also of bronze terminating in a wooden base.

Lapiths and Centaurs mosaic

Mosaic depicting the battle between the Lapiths and Centaurs. The mosaic is laid out in three rows. Left to right, bottom row: a man grasps a centaur by the hair and thrusts forward with a spear held in his right hand. Another centaur appears lower right facing an unseen opponent. Middle row: a man attacks a centaur attempting to capture woman. Another man reaches toward the woman as if to help her escape. Top row: A man attacks a centaur who holds a woman by her arm. Another man appears to flee right.

Casa dei casta amanti fresco

Two couples recline on their left elbows. The men are at the head of the couches, the women lean against the mens' chests and holding large drinking vessels. In the center foreground a small round three-legged table with glass drinking vessels on top stands between the couches. In the upper left background of the fresco a slave supports a woman who has had too much to drink. In the lower right foreground a portion of a second round table with drinking vessels is visible.

Europa and the bull

Europa is shown on a blue background seated on a running or leaping bull. The. fabric of her clothing billows out behind her forming a halo.

Leda and the Swan

Leda stands on the left holding a swan by the neck with her left hand. The swan's beak hovers near Leda's mouth. Its wings stretch out behind it to the right of the fresco.

Io carried by the river Nile

The river Nile, in human form, appears in the lower left corner. Isis sits on his left shoulder with horns sprouting from her forehead. Isis sits in the lower right corner, clasping Io's right hand in her right. A snake, possibly a cobra, twines around Isis's left arm. Two attendants stand behind Isis. The both attendants carry a sistrum in their right hands. The attendant on the left holds a caduceus in the left hand while a small metal pot dangles from the attendant's left wrist.

Greek Myrtle

Greek Myrtle bush. In the background are multiple pink-red buds; in the foreground one bud has opened into a white flower

Cupid Stringing his Bow

Marble statue of Cupid stringing his bow. Cupid faces front with the bow held to his right side and head turned to face it. He holds the grip with his left hand and grasps the top limb with his right.