Find something on display — Explorers & Collectors

Find something on display: The Ancient world of Greece and Rome

This case displays a collection of Greek and Roman antiquities gathered by Percy Sydney Smythe, sixth Viscount Strangford (1780-1855.)

Bird or seal

Terracotta

Reference: 4196
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Black and red glazed lamp

Earthenware

Reference: 4233
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Black bowl

Reference: 4160
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Black two-handled pottery

5th to 1st century BC; found in Greece and Turkey

Earthenware

Cups for drinking wine or water, of a type called a skyphos.

Presented by Viscount Strangford to Canterbury Philosophical and Literary Institution Museum, 1844, and acquired through purchase of the museum by Canterbury Corporation, 1846-47
Reference: CANCM:nn
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Black two-handled vase of unusual shape

Found 1821

Reference: 4090
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Body of vase with band of Greek key pattern

From Megara, 1821

Reference: 4094
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Carved foot

Unknown date, probably Roman

Marble

Found at Agrigentum, Sicily, in 1825 and bought by Strangford in St Petersburg.

Presented by Viscount Strangford to Canterbury Philosophical and Literary Institution Museum, 1844, and acquired through purchase of the museum by Canterbury Corporation, 1846-47
Reference: 4265

Draped female figure holding round instrument in left hand

Delos, 1823

Terracotta

Reference: 4183
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Female figure with flowing robe From Delos

Terracotta

Reference: 4178
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Female head

Terracotta

Reference: 4184
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Foot with sandal strap

Found at Athens

Partial foot of a marble sculpture, with sandal thongs imitating creepers.

Reference: 4215
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Fragment of a sculptured frieze

Unknown date and source

Stone

Probably formed part of architectural decoration. The drilled holes
create lines of shadow.

Fragment of a votive dedication

3rd to 1st century BC; from a shrine in Mysia, northwest Turkey

Marble

Inscribed with a Greek dedication to local god Zeus Olbios.

Fragmentary relief

Unknown date; found at Buyukdere, Istanbul, Turkey

stone

This fragment probably relates to the labours of Hercules.

Funerary monument

Unknown date; found at Brusa (now Bursa) Turkey, 1823

Stone

The marble with a woman holding a lyre or harp is inscribed ‘Farewell to grieve no more, loved young and worthy Zosime’, a Greek female name.

Funerary monument

Unknown date; probably found in Turkey

Stone

The fragment of votive stone with horse and rider is unidentified.

Funerary monument

Unknown date; found at Adrianople (modern Edirne), Turkey

Stone

The family scene shows a seated man and woman with attendants or family, including children, and a horse visible through a window.

Funerary monument

Unknown date; probably found in Turkey

Stone

The gravestone with two figures reclining, a tripod table and servant in front of them, is inscribed ‘Farewell, worthy Nicotyche’.

Globular vase with arabesque pattern

Reference: 4116
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Hand with a scroll

Found at Adrianople (modern Edirne), Turkey

Marble

Reference: 4197
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Head of a woman with a garland

Marble

Reference: 4208
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Ivy-crowned head of Bacchus Marble

Marble

Reference: 4194
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Lamp

4th to 2nd century BC Greek and 1st to 2nd century AD Roman

Earthenware

The round oil lamps were mass-produced in moulds with a variety of decoration. Oil was poured in through a central hole and wicks for light placed in the corner spouts.

Lamp shaft in the form of a female holding her robe

Reference: 4193
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Lekythos

Black figure with a four-horse chariot with a draped female figure.

Reference: 4153
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Lekythos

Red figure with Nike pouring at an altar bits missing

Reference: 4152
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Lekythos

Design very worn

Reference: 4114
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Lekythos

Reference: 4108
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Lekythos

Reference: 4107
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Lekythos

Charioteer driving a four-horse chariot

Reference: 4154
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Marble relief

Unknown date; found at Brusa (now Bursa), Turkey

Stone

This square marble relief shows one of the labours of Hercules, who was tasked with stealing apples from the Garden of the Hesperides, guarded by a serpent. Hercules tricked Atlas into doing the task. The latter’s cloak is shown flowing behind to suggest speed.

Presented by Viscount Strangford to Canterbury Philosophical and Literary Institution Museum, 1844, and acquired through purchase of the museum by Canterbury Corporation, 1846-47
Reference: 4267

Oil lamp with four burners

2nd century AD Roman, by a central Italian maker

Earthenware

By the same maker as the Odysseus lamp (both stamped CIVNBIT). The helmeted head surrounded by stars may represent Night.

Oil lamp with image from the Odyssey

Late 2nd century AD Roman, by a central Italian maker

Earthenware

An oil lamp of unusual square shape, made by Caius Innius Bitus, who stamped his initials, CIVNBIT, on the back. The image shows a scene from the Odyssey, the Greek epic poem by Homer. Odysseus (whom Romans called Ulysses) is sailing through dangerous waters off the coast of Ithaca, where Sirens lure mariners to their deaths on the rocks. He has put wax in the ears of his crew, so they don’t hear the Sirens, and has tied himself to the ship’s mast, to prevent the Sirens’ call from making him throw himself into the sea.

Pedestal with a relief of a boy leaning against a tree

Reference: 4187
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Pig or other animal

Terracotta

Reference: 1007
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Pomegranate

Terracotta

Cut to show interior

Reference: 4182
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Portion of a terracotta cornice

4th to 1st century BC; found in Rhodes

Earthenware

Building decoration fragment with Grecian honeysuckle and a face.

Profile head crowned with laurel

Perhaps 5th to 4th century BC; found in Rhodes, 1824

Marble

Laurel leaves are symbolic of victory.

Relief of a woman

Terracotta

Reference: 4190
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Round tablet with inscription

Terracotta

Reference: 4189
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Sculptural fragment with hands holding a disc

Perhaps 5th to 4th century BC; source unknown

Marble

Finely carved and probably from a discus-thrower sculpture.

Seated Bacchus

Naxos, 1822

Terracotta

Reference: 4186
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Seated figure

Terracotta

Reference: 4174
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Seated figure

Terracotta

Reference: 4181
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Seated figure with headdress

Terracotta

Reference: 960
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Seated male

Terracotta

Reference: 4199
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Shallow black and red bowl

Reference: 4157
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Shallow black bowl

Pattern inside of circular radiations including the branches of a palm or yew.

Reference: 4161
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Small black vase

Reference: 4091
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Small red and black globular vase

Reference: 4168

Small urn with arabesque patterns

Reference: 4163
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Small vase

1st to 4th century Greek

Earthenware

With heads and birds on the bowl, and the faces of a man and woman across a swan.

Reference: 4162
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Small vase

Foliated pattern in red and black

Reference: 4107
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Small vase

Gladiator holding a shield.

Reference: 4103
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Small vase

Reference: 4170
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Small vase with honeysuckle design

Reference: 4122
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Small vase with honeysuckle design

Reference: 4166

Small vase with horizontal grooves

Reference: 4169
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Small vessels

4th to 2nd century BC Greek and 1st to 2nd century AD Roman

Earthenware

Small flasks and jugs used for toilet oil, perfume and condiments. The colours were achieved by covering parts of the clay pots with slip (diluted clay solution). The iron oxide naturally present in the clay turned from red to black, or back to red, depending on firing conditions. Further pigments could be added to the slip.

Spouted black vessel

May be a child’s feeding pot.

Reference: 4093
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Terracotta reclining male figure

3rd to 1st century BC; found at Athens in 1821

Earthenware

There are traces of red paint on the terracotta.

Two-handled vase

Reference: 4089
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Urn with two female heads facing one another

Reference: 4165
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Vase

Reference: 4238
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Vase

With four figures, the two central ones fighting.

Reference: 4119
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Vase

Reference: 4111
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Vase with diamond pattern

Reference: 4230
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Vase with honeysuckle design

Reference: 4115
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Vase with honeysuckle design

Reference: 4224
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Vase with honeysuckle design

Reference: 4117
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Vase with honeysuckle design From Megara

Reference: 4110
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Vase with longitudinal furrows

Reference: 4232
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Vase with winged horse lying down

Reference: 4229
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

Wolf’s head

Terracotta

Reference: 4223
Can be found: Explorers & Collectors

‘Lekythos’ vase

5th century BC; found at Athens in 1811 (mouth found separately in 1821)

Earthenware

The Lekythos is a type of tall vase particular to ancient Athens. It contained oil for funerary offerings. The image shows a crucial moment in the story of mythological hero Agamemnon. He had returned from years of war in Troy to find his wife, Clytemnestra, was having an affair with his cousin Aigisthus. The adulterous pair murdered Agamemnon and neglected to observe correct funeral rites. Agamemnon’s daughter, Electra, sent her younger brother, Orestes, to safety. Years later he returned, and the two met and recognised one another at their father’s tomb (represented by the column). They planned how to avenge his death

Presented by Viscount Strangford to Canterbury Philosophical and Literary Institution Museum, 1844, and acquired through purchase of the museum by Canterbury Corporation, 1846-47
Reference: 4105

‘Lekythos’ vase

5th to 2nd century BC; found in Greece or Turkey

Earthenware

The Lekythos is a type of tall vase particular to ancient Athens. It contained oil for funerary offerings. The colours were achieved by covering parts of the clay pots with slip (diluted clay solution). Iron oxide naturally present in the clay turned from red to black, or back to red, depending on firing conditions. Further pigments could be added to the slip. This example has leaf patterns.

‘Lekythos’ vase

5th to 2nd century BC; found in Greece or Turkey

Earthenware

‘Lekythos’ vase

5th to 2nd century BC; found in Greece or Turkey

Earthenware

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