Plaster cast of a metal emblema of Isis-Tyche

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This plaster cast of a central medallion in high relief once adorned the interior of a silver vessel, probably a deep bowl. It preserves a representation of the syncretic deity Isis-Tyche that is unique in its number and combination of attributes, namely the knotted dress of Isis, a cornucopia, wings, and armor. Interestingly, the helmet and shield on which the figure rests point to an association with the goddess Athena. High quality plaster casts such as this one provide us with a rare glimpse into the market of luxury goods and the history of collecting in antiquity.

Greek and Roman Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Museum's collection of Greek and Roman art comprises more than thirty thousand works ranging in date from the Neolithic period (ca. 4500 B.C.) to the time of the Roman emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity in A.D. 312. It includes the art of many cultures and is among the most comprehensive in North America. The geographic regions represented are Greece and Italy, but not as delimited by modern political frontiers: Greek colonies were established around the Mediterranean basin and on the shores of the Black Sea, and Cyprus became increasingly Hellenized. For Roman art, the geographical limits coincide with the expansion of the Roman Empire. The department also exhibits the art of prehistoric Greece (Helladic, Cycladic, and Minoan) and pre-Roman art of Italic peoples, notably the Etruscans.

Metropolitan Museum of Art