Orpheus charming the animals, detail of a Roman Mosaic

Orpheus (center) sits on a rock under a tree. He holds his lyre in his left hand. His right arm is extended and he holds the plectrum in his right hand. Various animals (including a tortoise, bull, peacock, tiger, and deer) surround him listening attentively.

Orpheus charms the animals with his music.  Detail of a Roman floor mosaic from Building A, Piazza della Vittoria, Palermo. Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonio Salinas NI 2287. Photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5

Online Resources
Wikimedia Commons
Associated Passages
569-591
Type
Image
License
Creative Commons Attribution
Date
c. 200-250 CE
Medium
mosaic
Location
Museo Archeologico Regionale Antonio Salinas, Palermo
Image Credit
Wikimedia Commons

Thermae boxer (Boxer at Rest)

A boxer sits on a rock resting after his match. His head is turned, looking over his right shoulder. Injuries on his body and face are highlighted with red copper to mimic blood; small drops fall onto his body. He also shows signs of long-term injuries such as cauliflower ear. He is nude except for his leather hand-wraps.

So-called “Thermae boxer”; athlete resting after a boxing match. Bronze sculpture, Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme Inv. 1055. Image by Marie-Lan Nguyen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5.

Online Resources
Wikimedia Commons
Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo
Associated Passages
463-489
1122-1137
Type
Image
License
Creative Commons Attribution
Date
3rd-2nd centuries BCE
Medium
Bronze
Location
Museo Nazionale Romano, Palazzo Massimo alle Terme
Image Credit
Wikimedia Commons

Dancing Maenad holding a thyrsus, detail of a Roman relief

A maenad dances holding a thyrsus in her right hand. She wears a very light, almost transparent, dress, earrings and a what appears to be a diadem. Her hair is down, but gathered in a loose, low ponytail.

A maenad dances holding a thyrsus in her right hand. Copy after a Greek original sculpted in Athens at the end of the 5th century BC, traditionally attributed to Callimachus. One of four marble relief plaques, Museo Del Prado E00046. Image by Ana Belén Cantero Paz via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

Online Resources
Wikimedia Commons
Museo Del Prado
Associated Passages
463-489
895-918
Type
Image
License
Creative Commons Attribution
Date
c. 120-140 CE
Medium
Marble
Location
Museo Del Prado
Image Credit
Wikimedia Commons

Hercules diverting the rivers Alpheios and Peneus, detail of a Roman mosaic from Llíria

Hercules (left) lifts a rake above his head apparently to break the bank of either the river Alpheus or Peneus represented by a stack of rocks (right). A stream of water flows from the earth into a bucket. Hercules wears his lion skin and his club lies discarded on the ground at his feet.

Hercules cleans the Augean stables by rerouting the rivers Alpheus and Peneus. Museo Arqueológica Nacional, Madrid 38315BIS. Photo by Luis García via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Online Resources
Wikimedia Commons
Museo Arqueológica Nacional, Madrid
Associated Passages
205-248
Date
200-250 CE
Medium
mosaic
Location
Museo Arqueológica Nacional, Madrid
Image Credit
Wikimedia Commons

Hercules and the Stymphalian Birds, detail of a Roman mosaic from Llíria

Hercules (left) draws his bow aiming at three of the Stymphalian birds (right), which are diving at him. Hercules wears his lion skin, a quiver is slung across his right shoulder and rests against his left hip.

Hercules hunts the Stymphalian Birds. Detail of The Twelve Labours Roman mosaic from Llíria, Spain. Museo Arqueológica Nacional, Madrid 38315BIS. Photo by Luis García via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0

Online Resources
Wikimedia Commons
Museo Arqueológica Nacional, Madrid
Associated Passages
205-248
Type
Image
License
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike
Date
200-250 CE
Medium
mosaic
Location
Museo Arqueológica Nacional, Madrid
Image Credit
Wikimedia Commons

Hercules and the Golden Apples, detail of a Roman mosaic from Llíria

Hercules (left) plucks an apple from a tree (center) with his left hand. He wears his lion skin and carries his club in his right. Three of the Hesperides look on from the background (right).

Hercules stealing the Golden Apples from the Hesperides. Detail of The Twelve Labours Roman mosaic from Llíria, Spain. Museo Arqueológica Nacional, Madrid 38315BIS. Photo by Luis García via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0

Online Resources
Wikimedia Commons
Museo Arqueológica Nacional, Madrid
Associated Passages
205-248
524-532
1100-1121
License
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike
Date
200-250 CE
Medium
mosaic
Location
Museo Arqueológica Nacional, Madrid
Image Credit
Wikimedia Commons

Hercules and the Cretan Bull, detail from a Roman mosaic from Llíria

Hercules (left) grasps the Cretan Bull (right) by its right horn and muzzle turning its head to face the viewer. Hercules wears his lion skin; his club lies discarded on the ground below the bull.

Hercules capturing the Cretan Bull. Detail of The Twelve Labours Roman mosaic from Llíria, Spain. Museo Arqueológica Nacional, Madrid 38315BIS. Photo by Luis García via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY-SA 3.0

Online Resources
Wikimedia Commons
Museo Arqueológica Nacional, Madrid
Associated Passages
205-248
License
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike
Date
200-250 CE
Location
Museo Arqueológica Nacional, Madrid
Image Credit
Wikimedia Commons
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