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ID a Greek scene on a cameo
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<p>[QUOTE="Bronwen, post: 2865342, member: 5833"]This is the myth that fits the cameo scene the best. The name Amalthea was assigned by ancient authors sometimes to the goat, sometimes to the nymph, so there's confusion on that point. Since the name ends in 'thea', goddess, I'm inclined to think of the nymph by that name, but many sources give it to the goat. Rather depends on whether you imagine the infant Zeus suckling directly from the goat or Zeus being nursed by the nymph with the goat's milk. The names Adrasteia & Adamanthea are variants of Amalthea.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is the most common cameo depiction:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]283835[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>All that being said, I think Ratsy's cameo is a more generic theme with connections to the imagery of Dionysus (Bacchus), which also typically features nymphs, goats, sometimes putti, as well as maenads (bacchantes), fauns & satyrs, many playing the instruments associated with his revels: flutes; drums; cymbals. Cameo is helmet shell, Italian, 20th century. Would want to to see the findings on the back to pin down the age a little more. </p><p><br /></p><p>As the golden age of cameos was passing away, cutters became less faithful to the conventions for depicting specific scenes & individuals. If the cutter of Ratsy's cameo had Zeus & Amalthea in mind, he failed to include any elements specific enough to let us know.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]283837[/ATTACH] </p><p>[ATTACH=full]283839[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Bronwen, post: 2865342, member: 5833"]This is the myth that fits the cameo scene the best. The name Amalthea was assigned by ancient authors sometimes to the goat, sometimes to the nymph, so there's confusion on that point. Since the name ends in 'thea', goddess, I'm inclined to think of the nymph by that name, but many sources give it to the goat. Rather depends on whether you imagine the infant Zeus suckling directly from the goat or Zeus being nursed by the nymph with the goat's milk. The names Adrasteia & Adamanthea are variants of Amalthea. This is the most common cameo depiction: [ATTACH=full]283835[/ATTACH] All that being said, I think Ratsy's cameo is a more generic theme with connections to the imagery of Dionysus (Bacchus), which also typically features nymphs, goats, sometimes putti, as well as maenads (bacchantes), fauns & satyrs, many playing the instruments associated with his revels: flutes; drums; cymbals. Cameo is helmet shell, Italian, 20th century. Would want to to see the findings on the back to pin down the age a little more. As the golden age of cameos was passing away, cutters became less faithful to the conventions for depicting specific scenes & individuals. If the cutter of Ratsy's cameo had Zeus & Amalthea in mind, he failed to include any elements specific enough to let us know. [ATTACH=full]283837[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]283839[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]
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