#AncientBluesky is an active hashtag on Bluesky. In the last 30 days, 55 people shared 255 posts with it — around 9 a day. Activity is down 18% versus the previous week, peaking on Jul 31 with 16 posts.

Posts with #AncientBluesky

Dr Jo Ball

@drjeball.bsky.social

about 2 months ago

A #Roman mosaic octopus, found in a villa at Villaquejida (Spain) - laid some 1800-1900 years ago, but still looking fabulous today #MosaicMonday #AncientBlueSky

34 378 2553

Chapps

@chapps.bsky.social

2 days ago

I'm a huge fan of archaeological photos where we get our first peek at objects in the field. Here, a 1st c. CE marble monopodium (table base) in the form of a naked boy holding a goose appears out of the lapilli in #Pompeii in 1952. 🏺 #ancientbluesky 1/ 📸 left, me; right, see ALT

Marble sculpture of a naked boy with longish hair, wearing a cape and holding a small goose. He stands against a pilaster, which would have formed the support for a marble garden table.

Photo: my own, taken at the exhibition “L’altra Pompei, vite comuni all’ombra del Vesuvio” ('The other Pompeii, ordinary lives in the shadow of Vesuvius'), held at the Pompeii palaestra.

Black and white photo from the excavation of 1952, showing the head and top of the table support pilaster of this sculpture appearing out of a mound of lapilli, volcanic material (like loads of small pebbles or rocks). A brick column and brick wall are in the background.

Photo courtesy of Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei

6 39 263

Carausius

@carausius286.bsky.social

5 months ago

This silver coin was likely struck in Syracuse in the 460s BC. Its depiction of a highly realistic octopus shows the incredible skill of the artist and the city’s close relationship with the sea. A mini-masterpiece. #AncientBlueSky 🏺

36 270 2002

Anthony Majanlahti

@anthonymajanlahti.bsky.social

2 days ago

Found in an #Esquiline pit, this #Silenus antefix of c. 500 BCE was imported from #Veii, while the roof tiles were local, and both were painted locally. This was state patronage under the #Tarquins: importing high-end Etruscan art to augment local work. #ReliefWednesday #AncientBluesky 🏺

ANTEFIX OF SILENUS, C. 530-500 BCE. CAPITOLINE MUSEUMS

This terracotta antefix of a Silenus was excavated from a sacred pit or favissa near Sant'Antonio Abate on the Esquiline. Mineral analysis reveals this piece was made from a mold using clay from Veii, proving it was a high-status import from Etruria, while the roof tiles found alongside it were fashioned from local sources, but both were painted locally, a sign of the itinerant groups of artisans moving easily between Etruscan and Latial towns. Patronage likely came from the Tarquin kings, who were happy to import high-quality terracotta art to decorate a local temple in the Esquiline's archaic sacred landscape. Nearby stood the temple of Libitina, a death goddess, conveniently near the vast Esquiline necropolis, home to burials of both rich and poor. Functionally, the antefix capped convex tiles to protect the timber edifice. On the roofline, this wild Dionysian figure alternated with female Mænad heads. The wide-eyed Silenus served an apotropaic function, glaring down to frighten away spirits, whilst the welcoming Mænads offered an inviting presence, broadcasting a unified message: let evil stay away, let joy approach.

2 46 184

Carausius

@carausius286.bsky.social

4 months ago

Naughty dogs and naughty children walking over wet clay tiles 2,000 years ago, now immortalised. 🏛️ Fishbourne Roman Palace / @romanpalace.bsky.social 📷mine 🏺 #AncientBlueSky

18 221 1500

Chapps

@chapps.bsky.social

6 months ago

This weird and wonderful Greek amphoriskos (flask) depicts a bird-man, but the explanation is astonishing. It almost certainly relates to Aristophanes' famous comedy 'The Birds' (first produced 415/414 BCE) and may represent a costume worn by members of the chorus. 🏺 #ancientbluesky #MetMuseum 📸 me

This extraordinary vase of a bird-man, of high technical quality, is unique among the examples of Attic black-glazed pottery known today. It almost certainly relates to Aristophanes' well-known comedy The Birds (first produced in 415/414 B.C.) and may represent the costume that would have been worn by members of the chorus in the fifth century B.C.

The body of the bird-man is upright, with human legs tucked under, and human arms wrapped around the bird body's overstuffed stomach. The head is a bird, except for somewhat human ears. The flared spout almost looks like a hat on top of the head of the bird-man, with a handle on either side, attached to the spout and to the feathered shoulders of the bird body. A little tiered circular stand is at the bottom.

26 209 1412

Carausius

@carausius286.bsky.social

4 months ago

This is the Coppergate Helmet, named after its find location in York. It’s Anglo-Saxon & one of only 6 helmets surviving from the period. If you look at the nose guard, it has fantastical animals weaving through the decoration. It’s wonderful. 🏛️Yorkshire Museum 📷Museum Trust #AncientBlueSky

29 190 1238

Carausius

@carausius286.bsky.social

5 months ago

This delightful little painted wooden horse was a child’s toy around 2,000 years ago. It dates from 1st - 3rd century AD Roman Egypt. The wood has been preserved so well by the intense dryness of the Egyptian climate. 🏛️📷 British Museum #AncientBlueSky 🏺

20 254 1199

Carausius

@carausius286.bsky.social

4 months ago

This exquisite cameo depicts Drusus, the younger brother of Tiberius. With its plasticity, depth and detail, not to mention the striking azure colour, it is, quite simply, a masterpiece of cameo work. 🏛️📷Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna 🕰️ c 20 AD #AncientBlueSky 🏺

26 184 1195

Dr Jo Ball

@drjeball.bsky.social

2 months ago

Octopus vase! 🐙 This Mycenaean pottery jar, made more than 3000 years ago, is decorated with a fabulous image of an octopus - look at the swirling tentacles, & those big round eyes! 🏺 #AncientBlueSky

18 158 1099

Carausius

@carausius286.bsky.social

5 months ago

I posted about the Battersea shield & the wonders of ancient British bronzework recently, so now here’s the Waterloo helmet (found in the Thames at this location). Originally, the bronze would have gleamed like gold & it was decorated with red glass studs. 🏛️BM 📷 mine #AncientBlueSky 🏺

19 129 972

Carausius

@carausius286.bsky.social

3 months ago

This incredible carved gemstone depicts Jupiter in spectacular detail, all the more spectacular given it is only about 5cm tall. Incredible craftsmanship (and eyesight!). 🕰️ C1stBC - C1stAD 🏛️📷 Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna #AncientBlueSky