Ancient Myths

Small-format bronzes were considered prestige items in the ancient world. Greek and Roman bronzes are particularly notable for their expressive modeling and dramatic representations of the gods and worshippers who populated ancient mythology and its pantheon.

Exhibit Items

$b'Emaciated Man' b'Roman, 1st century, copy of Greek original of 2nd century BCE; bronze; 11.5 \xc3\x97 5 \xc3\x97 8.3 cm (4 1/2 \xc3\x97 1 15/16 \xc3\x97 3 1/4 in.). BZ.1947.22'$

Emaciated Man

Roman, 1st century, copy of Greek original of 2nd century BCE; bronze; 11.5 × 5 × 8.3 cm (4 1/2 × 1 15/16 × 3 1/4 in.). BZ.1947.22

$b'Statuette of Hephaistos' b'Greek, 5th century BCE; bronze; 21.5 \xc3\x97 5.2 \xc3\x97 7.2 cm (8 7/16 \xc3\x97 2 1/16 \xc3\x97 2 13/16 in.). BZ.1936.61'$

Statuette of Hephaistos

Greek, 5th century BCE; bronze; 21.5 × 5.2 × 7.2 cm (8 7/16 × 2 1/16 × 2 13/16 in.). BZ.1936.61

$b'Young Woman with Offerings' b'Roman, 1st century BCE\xe2\x80\x932nd century CE, copy of a Greek original of 6th\xe2\x80\x935th century BCE; bronze; 19 \xc3\x97 8.5 \xc3\x97 5 cm (7 1/2 \xc3\x97 3 3/8 \xc3\x97 1 15/16 in.). BZ.1936.66'$

Young Woman with Offerings

Roman, 1st century BCE–2nd century CE, copy of a Greek original of 6th–5th century BCE; bronze; 19 × 8.5 × 5 cm (7 1/2 × 3 3/8 × 1 15/16 in.). BZ.1936.66