Antiquities Exhibits

Ivory and gold miniature of the Thracian deity Sabazios from the Tomb of Alexander IV, 311 BCE in Aigai, Macedonia. According to the Archaeological Museum of Aigai, the garments worn by this half-man, half-plant demon-like figure point to Sabazios, a Thracian deity identified with Dionysos.  This hybrid creature, with both Greek and Oriental features, is typical of art of the Hellenistic Period (323-31 BCE).  Celebrating the coexistence and synthesis of different cultures, it reflects the unity Alexander imposed on his empire. This miniature was part of the rich decoration on a couch found in Alexander IV's tomb.  Alexander IV, the son of Alexander the Great, with a Macedonian father and Bactrian mother, was a good example of this unity.  Sadly, he was assassinated at the age of only 12 (others say 14), before he could take his father's throne by an officer of his father's Companion cavalry on the orders of Cassander.  His tomb is thought to be among the royal t...

Anytime I read about a Roman imperial execution and the rationale given is a sexual tryst I become suspicious because sexual indiscretions have historically been used to justify Roman assassinations since the beginning of Roman history.  So, after writing that post about Constantine's wife, Fausta, yesterday, I did a little more research on Constantine's son, Crispus. Crispus was leader in victorious military operations against the Franks and the Alamanni in 318, 320 and 323. Thus he secured the continued Roman presence in the areas of Gaul and Germania. The soldiers adored him thanks to his strategic abilities and the victories to which he had led the Roman legions. Crispus spent the following years assisting Constantine in the war against by then hostile Licinius. In 324, Constantine appointed Crispus as the commander of his fleet which left the port of Piraeus to confront Licinius' fleet. The subsequent Battle of the Hellespont was fought at the straits of Bosporus. The ...