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The box is one of a small number to survive from the 4th through 7th centuries, most carved with mythological (pagan) or Christian subjects. Often called "pyxides" (Greek for "boxes"), they served a variety of functions, such as holding holy incense in a church context or a woman's jewelry. The walls of this one contain two episodes from Greek mythology. First, the Olympian gods are seen feasting around a tripod table and holding the golden Apple of the Hesperides. In the next scene, Hermes is awarding the apple to Aphrodite, whom he chose over Athena and Hera (shown to her sides) as the most beautiful among goddesses.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
346aa5104c1f5b20
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
28991
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
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    "id": "28991",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/71.64",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Circular Pyxis",
    "description": "The box is one of a small number to survive from the 4th through 7th centuries, most carved with mythological (pagan) or Christian subjects. Often called \"pyxides\" (Greek for \"boxes\"), they served a variety of functions, such as holding holy incense in a church context or a woman's jewelry. The walls of this one contain two episodes from Greek mythology. First, the Olympian gods are seen feasting around a tripod table and holding the golden Apple of the Hesperides. In the next scene, Hermes is awarding the apple to Aphrodite, whom he chose over Athena and Hera (shown to her sides) as the most beautiful among goddesses.",
    "provenance": "Count Girolamo Possenti, Fabriano, by purchase;  Sale, Florence, March 29, 1880, no. 16;  Eugen Felix, Cologne [date of acquisition unknown], by purchase;  Sale, Cologne, October 25, 1886, no. 319;  Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1926 [mode of acquisition unknown];  Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
    "date": "5th-6th century (Late Antique)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/71.64",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Ivory & Bone",
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    "dimensionsRaw": "H: 3 3/8 x Diam: 3 9/16 in. (8.5 x 9.1 cm)"
}

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Document identity
{
    "localId": "28991",
    "label": "Circular Pyxis",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/71.64"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "28991",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/71.64",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Circular Pyxis",
    "description": "The box is one of a small number to survive from the 4th through 7th centuries, most carved with mythological (pagan) or Christian subjects. Often called \"pyxides\" (Greek for \"boxes\"), they served a variety of functions, such as holding holy incense in a church context or a woman's jewelry. The walls of this one contain two episodes from Greek mythology. First, the Olympian gods are seen feasting around a tripod table and holding the golden Apple of the Hesperides. In the next scene, Hermes is awarding the apple to Aphrodite, whom he chose over Athena and Hera (shown to her sides) as the most beautiful among goddesses.",
    "provenance": "Count Girolamo Possenti, Fabriano, by purchase;  Sale, Florence, March 29, 1880, no. 16;  Eugen Felix, Cologne [date of acquisition unknown], by purchase;  Sale, Cologne, October 25, 1886, no. 319;  Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1926 [mode of acquisition unknown];  Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.",
    "date": "5th-6th century (Late Antique)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/71.64",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
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    "iiifBase": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS1_71.64_VwB_DD_T10.jpg",
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    "largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/PS1_71.64_VwB_DD_T10.jpg",
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}
Document source extras
{
    "cul": "Byzantine",
    "med": "ivory",
    "creator_ids": [
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        "ROM",
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    ]
}
Page context
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