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@followinghadrian.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 7:21 PM

#ReliefWednesday - Marble relief depicting Antinous as Silvanus, harvesting grapes with a dog at his side. Antinous wears a pine wreath and the exomis (Greek tunic) and carries a pruning hook. The maker's name is inscribed on the altar: 'Antonianos of Aphrodisias made this'.

@anthonymajanlahti.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 2:01 PM

The bicameral mind. For #ReliefWednesday, a late antique #ivory #diptych in the #Bargello. The left panel shows St Paul on #Malta, complete with horrified bystanders reacting to a viper biting his hand. On the right, Adam is rendered as a classical pagan hero. #AncientBluesky 🏺

IVORY DIPTYCH WITH SCENES OF SAINT PAUL AND ADAM, C. 400 CE. MUSEO NAZIONALE DEL BARGELLO, FLORENCE

This intricately carved late antique ivory diptych presents what appears to modern eyes as a stylistic clash, but which actually reflects a perfectly coherent worldview. The left panel features dynamic, chaotic scenes from the life of Saint Paul, centring on his time on Malta where he shakes a viper into a fire while bystanders react with visceral horror. This dramatic New Testament narrative of the fallen world contrasts sharply with the right panel, which displays Adam in the Garden of Eden surrounded by a peaceful menagerie. Adam is rendered as a classical heroic nude, his static and idealised pose mirroring pagan depictions of Orpheus. To the late antique mind, there was no dissonance in pairing active Christian miracle stories with calm classical imagery. The diptych effortlessly employs established classical artistic vocabulary to convey a unified Christian dogmatic message, visually arguing that the ultimate goal of New Testament salvation is a return to the pre-fall harmony of Eden.

@bwallower.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 1:21 PM

#ReliefWednesday
September has arrived: in Tuscany, the first month of the grape harvest when farmers hop into a tank to crush grapes for must.
Medieval labours of the month as on facade of Lucca's Cattedrale di San Martino provide handy guide to what most occupied people thru the year. Plus zodiac.

Depiction of September in the Labours of the Months relief on the facade of Lucca's Cathedral. The figures of the months are set within a succession of elegant small arches supported by small green marble columns. At the impost points of the arches are small medallions containing the corresponding zodiac symbols - for September these are Scorpio and Libra. Below between the columns is the figure of a man with bare legs standing in a raised tank to press grapes. Below the figure is engraved the name of the month, abbreviated to SEPTEB.

@partialhistorians.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 10:13 AM

A glimpse of faces that see both ways. Ancient nods to Janus in the Palazzo Chigi, Aricca.

#ReliefWednesday

@observethedate.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 7:54 AM

Wednesday

#WednesdayGreen
#AquilineWednesday
#BookshopWednesday
#EgyptologyWednesday
#GothicWednesday
#HillfortsWednesday
#HollowayWednesday
#WaterTowerWednesday
#LegendaryWednesday
#ReliefWednesday
#RoseWednesday

@archaeohawke.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 7:32 AM

#ReliefWednesday - The Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus or "Great" Ludovisi sarcophagus is an ancient Roman sarcophagus dating to around AD 250–260. Found in 1621 in the Vigna Bernusconi, a tomb near the Porta Tiburtina. (See Alt. ) #History #Art 👀

It is known for its densely populated, anti-classical composition of "writhing and highly
emotive"Romans and Goths, and is an example of the battle scenes favored in Roman art during the Crisis of the Third Century. Discovered in 1621 and named for its first modern owner, Ludovico Ludovisi, the sarcophagus is now displayed at the Palazzo Altemps in Rome, part of the National Museum of Rome as of 1901.

The Ludovisi Battle sarcophagus or "Great" Ludovisi sarcophagus is an ancient Roman sarcophagus dating to around AD 250–260. Found in 1621 in the Vigna Bernusconi, a tomb near the Porta Tiburtina.

@kpw1453.bsky.social Sep 9, 2026, 6:15 AM

Carved relief of the goddess Fortuna which was found in the River Tyne at Newcastle. They relief is now part of the collections at the Great North Museum (Hancock) in Newcastle. 📸 My own. #ReliefWednesday #RomanBritain #Newcastle