The following post is dedicated mostly to ancient depictions interpreted as images of children; nonetheless, most of the illustrating material is suitable rather for adult Readers. As it happens, ancient Egyptians venerated some child deities – or rather particular gods when they were children. Christian cult of Infant Jesus is…
Transsexualism?
One of the most surprising ancient sculptures in the collection of Louvre in Paris is probably Sleeping Hermaphroditus – it is a Roman marble statue, and a copy after lost bronze Hellenistic Greek sculpture (dating back to mid-second century B.C., mentioned by Pliny the Elder in his “Natural History”). It…
Syriac treasure
Every art historian working on illuminated manuscripts can list a few books that are important marks on the timeline of medieval manuscripts’ history. One of such examples, at least until recently, has been so called Rabbula Gospels (Florence, Bibliotheca Laurenziana). Apparently even the most famous work of art may turn…
Did Michelangelo forge Laocoön?
The Laocoön Group is one of the most famous ancient sculptures, depicting mythical Laocoön and his sons being killed by the snakes. The statue was discovered in Rome in 1506 – it was unearthed in the vineyard of certain Felice De Fredis. Immediately Giuliano da Sangallo was called to the site…
Waiting for the Sun
December 25th is the day when the Christians celebrate Nativity of Jesus – however there are no sources that would prove Christ indeed was born on that particular day. The decision about establishing Christmas on December 25th was carefully considered by the Early-Christian Church, and it was accepted as late…