Aryballos

Greek (found near Olympia), 6th - 4th century B.C.

Small oil or perfume flask, glass, 7.2 cm high ( ~ 3 in)

Source: The J. Paul Getty Museum

More aryballoi! These probably once held perfumed oil for anointing the body. 

The round, squat shape reflects the technique used to create them, glassblowing! Molten glass is inflated like a balloon at the end of a tube. The development of blowing molten glass was accompanied by new techniques of decorating the glass while it was still hot. 

More info on the Teal aryballos, striped aryballos, and orange aryballos.

Scenes from the Battle of Cable Street, London, October 4th, 1936

via reddit

Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town on the Romantic Road in Bayern (Bavaria), Southern Germany, about halfway in between Frankfurt and Munich. It’s known for its medieval center (Altstadt), seemingly untouched by the passage of time, encircled by the undamaged 14th century town wall. In the Middle Ages, it was a free imperial city, reaching its apex of prosperity under Bürgermeister Heinrich Toppler in the 15th century with a large population of 6,000 - much larger than Frankfurt and Munich at the time. Now it’s a small town and tourist attraction.

so Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord (Job 1:12, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ διάβολος παρὰ τοῦ κυρίου)

Job with the catena of Olympiodorus, Byzantium 12th-13th century

Bodleian Library, MS Barocci 201, fol. 15v

Egyptian Bronze Ba-Bird Figurine, Roman Imperial Period, 2nd Century AD

The falcon body has the human head of a pharaoh. He wears the double-crown of which only the red crown of Lower Egypt is preserved, the upper part is missing.  He also wears a broad collar with a wedjat eye pendant.

Please see this article for more info on the Ba-bird.

The Puppet Emperors of the Western Roman Empire,

Traditional history often marks the year 476 AD as being the fall of the Western Roman Empire, however arguments can be made that the fall occurred at other dates. One alternative date is the year 456 AD, the year when the Roman Imperial Government lost its sovereignty, instead being ruled by puppet emperors under the control of the Germanic warlords, most notably Ricimer and Odoacer.  The last Roman Emperors to have any real power were Avitus and Majorian.  The reign of Avitus was short live (455-456), lasting barely a year before his magister militum (top military commander) overthrew him from the throne and later had him murdered.  After the murder of Avitus, Ricimer appointed his own emperor to the throne, a Roman general named Majorian.  Majorian is known to history as being the last Western Roman Emperor to make a concerted effort to reunite the Empire, conducting several successful campaigns against Germanic kingdoms and reconquering France and Spain.  Unhappy with with Majorian’s acts against his fellow Germanic peoples, Ricimer had Majorian deposed and murdered in 460 AD.

After the overthrow of Majorian, Ricimer decided that he would take personal control of the empire.  However, as a German he could not be considered a legitimate emperor to the Roman people. While it was not unusual for non-Romans to become Emperor in the 1st through 3rd century, by the 5th century such as practice was forbidden. Thus, Ricimer installed a number of puppet emperors to the throne who would be under his direct control. While officially the Emperor was head of state, in reality Ricimer was in complete control, ruling from behind the shadow of the throne. To add to the legitimacy of his regime Ricimer sometimes installed men who were approved by the Eastern Roman Emperor in Constantinople, though he often installed men who were not approved by the Eastern Emperor.  At the time, there was little the Eastern Roman Empire could do about it.  Ricimer chose men who were easily pliable and held them on a very short leash to ensure they wouldn’t become ambitious and independent like Majorian. His puppet emperors were also very disposable, during his 12 years as defacto ruler of Rome, Ricimer went through five emperors, only one of which died of natural causes, the others being murdered when they met Ricimer’s disproval.  

Ricimer died in 472, and was replaced by his nephew Gundobad, who continued the tradition of maintaining a puppet empire.  Gundobad’s rule was short and he was responsible only for the installment of the puppet Emperor Glycerius.  In 473-474 Gundobad’s father died, and he thus traveled back home to Burgundy in order to take his father’s place as king.  After Gundobad, a Germanic officer in the Roman Army named Odoacer took control.  Odoacer installed the puppet Emperor Julian Nepos, however Nepos was quickly overthrown by the Roman general Orestes, who placed his son, Romulus Augustus on the throne.  The reign of Romulus was short, as Odoacer quickly destroyed the forces of Orestes and booted Romulus out of Rome in 476 AD.

After the reign of Romulus, Odoacer finally decided to end all pretenses and named himself King of Italy.  The Eastern Roman Emperor recognized his rule, but only if Odoacer in turn recognized Julian Nepos as Emperor.  Nepos was in exile but ruled over a Roman remnant state in Illyricum, a territory which now makes up former Yugoslavia.  Odoacer agreed, even minting coins bearing Nepos’ image to placate the Eastern Emperor. However Odoacer refused to allow Nepos to return to Italy. When Nepos died in 480, Odoacer conquered his territory and refused to name another emperor.  The Eastern Roman Emperor, having little control of the situation, thus declared the Western Roman Empire officially dissolved in 480 AD. 

Chelys fimbriata [now Chelus fimbriatus] - Mata mata

Some people say the Mata mata turtle looks like it’s smiling, because of its unusually-shaped mouth. The Indigenous South American nickname for the turtle, “matamata”, means “I kill”, according to Fritz Jurgen Obst. Whether that eponym meant that the turtle was good to kill and eat or the turtle killed a lot is unknown. The relatively large size and a meat quality similar to the Alligator Snapping Turtle makes the former meaning more probable.

In the wild, Chelus fimbriatus lives in stagnant waters, blackpools, and muddy streams around the Amazon rainforest. Its fringed neck and murky coloration, combined with algae that grows on its carapace, makes this turtle an excellent ambush hunter. When fish come near it, the mouth opens up, and the mata mata “vacuums” them in. This is in contrast to Alligator Snapping Turtles, which are similar ambush predators, but with a different strategy. The tongue of the snapping turtle acts as a lure, and unsuspecting fish swim right into its mouth.

Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, 1885.

A follower reminded me (via a meme with a tortoise on it…) that it was World Turtle Day today.

CELEBRATE THIS TURTLE AS IT IS BEST TURTLE

Roman Ribbed Glass Bowl with White Trailing, 1st Century AD

The Unsung Heros of any viral infection scare (Zika for example) are the Micro Photographers for getting clear god-damn photos of fucking mosquitoes and ticks.

Very Rare Stater of the Ambiani, Northeast Gaul, 2nd Century BC

Obverse: Celticized bust of Apollo left, wearing broad wreath and drapery with linear designs. Reverse: Celticized Nike driving quadriga left; star and ornaments in field, rosette-like device and two pellets-in-annulets below; zigzag pattern in exergue.

The Ambiani were a Celtic speaking Belgic people in the valley of the Samara (modern Somme) and their chief town was Samarobriva, later called Ambiani and Civitas Ambianensium. They were among the people who took part in the great insurrection against the Romans, which is described in the seventh book of Caesar’s Gallic War.

The Ambiani were consummate minters and Ambianic coinage has been found throughout the territories of the Belgic tribes, including the Belgae of Britain. There is some evidence from coins that bear a stag on one side and a betorced head on the obverse that the Ambiani were followers of the god Cernunnos (horned God). A few Ambiani coins have been found along the south coast of the West Country possibly as the result of trade across the English channel.

Daily Monster 266: Merrow

Region of origin: Ireland

Water faeries of the Irish seas, the merrow had a conflicted relationship with humanity. Believed by many to be dangerous, stories warned the females, who appeared as beautiful women with the lower body of a fish, sang beautiful, hypnotic songs that lured people into the water where they drowned or were viciously torn apart by the merrow while the males, more monstrous and porcine in appearance, captured souls of drowned sailors and kept them in cages under the sea. Contrary to these negative depictions there were tales of merrow coexisting with people, shedding their skin like a selkie to take on a more human form when they came on land. Some even formed relationships and intermarried with the humans, although it was said any merrow living away from the sea would eventually languish and desire to return. The merrow wore a hat, known as a cohuleen druith, that if stolen would prevent them from being able to return to the sea.

Our blog, The Iris, is now Creative Commons–licensed. We’re nerdily excited!

1,000+ posts on art, conservation, and related topics are free to be used + adapted, with lots more coming. Creative Commons licensing for images arrives this summer, too.

{Iris logo going wheeeee inspired by an early-19th-century color wheel in watercolor}

The Last Charleville Infantry Musket — The Model 1777,

The Charleville pattern musket served as the primary arm of France beginning in the early 18th century.  In 1777 the Charleville Model 1777 was introduced which was an improvement on all other previous models.  One of the biggest improvements of the Model 1777 was a slanted brass flashplan, angled in such a way that gravity would force the priming powder towards the flash hole.  Brass was also thought to encourage better ignition of the priming powder, which increased the chance of a successful discharge.  In addition a cheek rest was carved on the left hand side of the stock.  Various other modifications were made to the stock, barrel, and barrel bands which made the musket stronger and lighter.

The Model 1777 first saw action during the American Revolution when 4,000 French troops landed in New England and took part in the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778.  Later the French played a pivotal role in the siege of Yorktown in 1781.  In the meantime French troops clashed with the British in the Caribbean, Europe, and in India.  It is a common myth that the French supplied the Continental Army with Model 1777’s, however the new muskets were reserved exclusively for French troops.  Instead older model Charleville muskets were sent to America.

The Model 1777 would again play a major role during the French Revolution and subsequent Napoleonic Wars.  In 1800 First Consul and future Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte personally ordered a set of specific modifications to the Model 1777.  This included minor modifications to the lock, stock, and bayonet mount.  The new model was called the M1777 Corrige (corrected or improved).  The Model 1777 Corrige would serve as the mainstay of Napoleon’s armies as he conquered Europe, then was eventually defeated.  Because of the demand for arms during the Napoleonic Wars, the vast majority of the 7 million M1777’s were the Corrige model.  Further improvements would be made in 1816 and 1822.

The Model 1777 Charleville  would served the French Army up to the 1830’s. Dragoon, artillery, and naval versions were also produced.  Eventually production was moved the the St. Etienne Armory, and Charlevilles were eventually replaced with percussion muskets, and later rifled muskets. While the M1777 is famous for it’s use during the French Revolution and by Napoleon’s armies, it’s greatest legacy lies in the fact that it was such a good musket that almost all other nations copied it or adopted patterns based on it’s design principles.  This included the American Springfield, the Russian Tula models, many Austrian models, Dutch models, and 19th century Prussian Potsdam models. 

The Madness of Tulip Mania,

In the 17th century the Dutch became among the wealthiest people in the world as Dutch merchants traded goods all over the world. A smart and enterprising Amsterdam merchant could expect profits of 400-500% if a voyage to the Far East or India succeeded. With this new influx of wealth many Dutch needed new ways to spend their new found wealth.  In the mid 16th century the tulip was introduced to Europe from the Ottoman Empire.  After several decades of study by botanists, it was found that tulips thrived best in the Netherlands.  By the 17th century tulips began to be planted all over the country.

The tulip trade thrived to the point that by the 1630’s people were even making careers out of growing, breeding, and selling tulips.  The flower became a status symbol among well to do and wealthy Dutch as breeders created tougher and more beautiful species of flowers.  Eventually the tulip became more than just a mere flower, but a source of wealth and prestige for the Dutch upper class.

In the 1630’s the tulip became a securities instrument as investors pumped their money into tulip growing and breeding.  The profits made in the tulip business attracted more and more investors who sought to get rich quick.  Eventually the price of tulips began to skyrocket.  The mania began on November 12th of 1636.  Between Nov. 12th and February 13th, 1637, tulip prices rose 2,000%.  During that time it was recorded that one tulip transaction involved 40 bulbs being sold for 100,000 guilders.  By contrast a ton of butter cost 100 guilders and the average laborer earned around 150 guilders a year.  Left and right people were making ridiculous tulip transactions.  In one transaction 12 acres of land was traded for a single Semper Augustus bulb.  A transaction of 2,500 guilders was made for a single Viceroy bulb.  Some rare bulbs could cost as much a luxury houses.  Some people risked all of their savings to buy just one rare bulb, which was hoped to bring fortune and wealth as the price continued to rise and rise.

By the height of tulip mania, the average tulip was selling for 5,000 guilders per bulb.  By the spring of 1637, the price of tulips became so inflated that the vast majority of Dutch buyers and investors could not afford to buy a single bulb.  Tulip auctions ceased to sell their bulbs as buyers could not come up with the money to cover the inflated costs.  Overnight, demand for tulips crashed to zero.  Between February and April of 1637, tulip prices crashed to 1/20th their price at the height of the mania.  Investors lost everything as their precious bulbs became instantly worthless.  Many people had their entire wealth wiped out in what would become one the first economic bubbles in history.  Those who burrowed money to invest were doubly screwed, as they now owed thousands of guilders to creditors and lenders.  By summer of 1637, the price of tulips dropped to the point that hundreds of bulbs could be bought for a single guilder.

Roman Iron Folding Knife with Carved Bone Panther Handle, 2nd-3rd Century AD

bear fight

Gaston Phoebus, Le Livre de la chasse, Paris ca. 1407

NY, Morgan, MS M. 1044, fol. 18v