Eleusis had one of the most important sanctuaries during antiquity and I had the pleasure to visit the site today.
By the way, to quote Helena here: Word of the day - mystic piglet.
(A (mystic?) piglet from the area around Herculaneum, probably Villa dei Papyri. These animals were used in certain sacrifices.)
A Proto-Attica vessel from the 7th century BC, found at Eleusis (west cemetery).
"We drove the sharp end of the beam into the monster's [Polyphemus] eye, and bearing upon it with all my weight I kept turning it round and round as though I were boring a hole in a ship's plank with an auger, which two men with a wheel and strap can keep on turning as long as they choose. Even thus did we bore the red hot beam into his eye, till the boiling blood bubbled all over it as we worked it round and round, so that the steam from the burning eyeball scalded his eyelids and eyebrows, and the roots of the eye sputtered in the fire."
The Odyssey IX translated by Samuel Butler
A flower growing in the Plutonic shrine at Eleusis - this was the flower that grew on the Elysian fields where heroes and exceptional humans ended up after death.
Asklepios, copy of an original from ca 320 Bc.
This is the dedication from the statue above:
ΕΠΙΚΡΑΤΗΣ
ΠΑΜΦΙΛΟΥ
ΛΕΥΚΟΝΟΙΕΥΣ
ΑΣΚΛΗΠΙΩΙ
[To?] Asklepios, dedicated by Epikrates, son of Pamphilos from [the deme of] Leukonoe [in Attica].
Ancient war helmets are sometimes considered very rare and they sure are, but it's important to remember that we do have quite a number left anyway, they are just so few compared to ceramics and sculpture.
Late 7th, early 6th century BC Corinthian helmet (bronze).
I can't quite remember the date of this one, but it's a good example of a helmet that's not of the Corinthian type.
Late 6th century BC Corinthian bronze helmet.
There are several more or less famous beasts from antiquity, sometimes depicted in art - yet, even more common are other animal figurines.
A rattle in the shape of a pig. This piece from Cyprus is dated to the Cypro-Archaic II period (ca 600-480 BC).
This type of ceramics are called "Base ring II ware" (yes, all the different shapes, forms and types are killing me) and here we see an ox (presumably) from the Late Cypriot II period (1400-1200 BC).
And another example of the same shape as the one above.
Today have been kinda strange. I woke up at 9 ish (after far to few hours of sleep) and used my day fixing some clothing for the Revolutions party at The British School here. Yet, I managed to get my hands on some photos and you'll find 3 of them below.
A large Eros.
I don't know the find spot of this boy holding a hare (ca 320-310 BC), but similar statues have been found at Artemis sanctuary in Brauron (Attica).
A cycladic figurine, compare to the one in this post.
This is the temple of Aphaea (a local deity of fertility and agriculture at Egina) at the top of a mountain/huge hill. It was long forgotten in the ancient times as the local population was slaughtered and/or deported by the Athenians and not rediscovered until (semi) modern times.
The temple, dating to 500-490 BC to replace and older structure that burned down.
A beautifully carved capital from the Odeon of Agrippa (ca 20 BC) at the Athenian Agora.
Demostenes (384-322 Bc) pushed through a motion dictation that elaborated were to be banned - this is the result (commonly known and "soptunnegravar" or "trash can tombs" in Swedish).
I have been to a lot of museums. very many actually. There are still finds that turn out to be curious or special and I must say that the bronze pieces at the Piraeus museum really did impress me - I will however only post a photo of one of them today, as I'm short on time (I could really post more pictures every day, but I have other things to do as well).
Athena in bronze, a truly remarkable and unique piece. It can be dated (based on the style) to the mid 4th century BC. Notice the pose, the weight on one leg, the leaning head, moving arm and the sad expression.
Four of the Olympians. Hermes comes first with his easily recognized heralds staff, the kerykeion and the travellers hat, then comes Athena with the Aegis armour (a goat skin breast armour with a Medusa head in the centre) and a spear. After these two we find the twin gods, first Apollon with his youthfulness and even more importantly his bow (that should be seen in the context of his sister, behind him) and at last Artemis who here is depicted with a torch (probably representing a special epithet connected to a special version of her cult) and her normal attributes; a bow and quiver.
Heracles and Apollon fighting about the delfic tripod. More on that episode under the Heracles heading (direct link to the specific episode).
