William Sterling

Head of one of the four horses of the moon goddess Selene from the northern end of the East Pediment of the Parthenon in Athens c. 420 BC, currently in the British Museum. One of the most popular of the so-called Elgin Marbles which Lord Elgin rescued from Athens in the early nineteenth century. The East Pediment showed the birth of Athena as she burst out of the head of her father, Zeus, and the reaction of those who were present. Although all the central figures are long gone at either end are depictions of the sun god Helios rising from the sea with his four horse chariot and the moon goddess Selene returning to the sea with hers showing that Athena was born at dawn. Image © Trustees of the British Museum

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Etruscans and Romans, an Introduction

July 27, 2015 @ 10:30 am - 4:30 pm

£40

We survey Roman history in its days of glory and empire illustrated in the afternoon by a visit to the British Museum during which we will examine key artefacts including the exquisite Portland Vase.

Italy before the ascent of Rome was dominated by the Etruscans who left magnificent tombs filled with pottery, statues and jewellery. By the C2nd BC Rome was in the ascendancy and gradually took over an empire stretching all-round the Mediterranean and beyond until it became so unwieldy it was split in the C3rd AD and then the Western half fell to Germanic tribes invading from the north in the C5th. Works examined include the Isis treasure, the Boccanera tiles, the Seianti sarcophagus, the Meroe bust of Augustus, the Portland Vase, the Warren Cup, the Crocodile armour, paintings from Pompeii, silver hoards and the Goose from the Constantinople Hippodrome.

 

Details

Date:
July 27, 2015
Time:
10:30 am - 4:30 pm
Cost:
£40
Event Tags:
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Website:
www.citylit.ac.uk

Organizer

City Lit

Venue

City Lit and British Museum
Keeley Street and Great Russell Street
London, United Kingdom + Google Map

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