On view March 24, 2023, through March 23, 2025
This two-year presentation centered around the theme of identity in the ancient world. Across the ancient Mediterranean, people would have felt some sense of group identity, such as belonging to a tribe, race, culture or civilization. They will have recognized differences between men and women, as well as experienced desires and moral constraints. Feelings of identity could also be expressed in opposition to other groups, such as Greeks vs. Persians or Scythians, Romans vs. Gauls or Germans, men vs. women. Our modern society recognizes many more expressions of identity that may invoke a sense of belonging or form exclusive alliances. In the ancient world, expressions of identity could not always be articulated explicitly because the terminology for voicing thoughts about personal, cultural and national frames of identity often did not exist. Identity in the Ancient World illustrated some of these aspects based predominantly on the Museum’s own Antiquities Collection, supplemented with some prominent long-term loans from other museums and private collections.
Identity in the Ancient World was one of several new exhibitions dedicated to the Museum’s permanent collection that will be on view for long-term displays over the next five years.
Grave monument set up for a freedman by his former master, portraying a Greek in Roman garment and hairstyle.
Marble sculpture; Ostia, Italy; Roman Imperial period, ca. 160-170 CE. Museum purchase, 1991.001
Sensuously sculpted torso with a pleated tunic, deeply girded at the hips, leaving one breast exposed.
Marble sculpture; Rome, Italy; early Roman Imperial period, ca. 1st century CE. Joseph Veach Noble Collection, Museum Purchase in part with funds donated by W.R.B. Enterprise, Inc., Judy & Bob Blanchard, and Jeanne & Jack Winter, 1986.134
Today, we recognize various expressions of identity, such as personal, social and national identity. Certain frames of identity are well-defined or fixed; others are based on personal choice or may change over time. Think of economic class and social status, education and profession, culture and nationality. Also, language, lifestyle, musical preference, personal companionship, political allegiance or religion. These frames of identity may invoke a sense of belonging or form exclusive alliances. They may also provoke feelings of marginalization, even policies of segregation. Or, they may create demands for acceptance and equal treatment. This exhibition engages the public to reflect upon the differences and similarities between the ancient world and our contemporary society. Some themes the visitor may encounter include masculinity and femininity, intimacy and ethnicity.
In the ancient world, such expressions of identity could not always be articulated explicitly because the terminology for voicing thoughts about personal, cultural and national frames of identity often did not exist. That is not to say that Egyptians or Persians, Greeks or Romans did not experience a sense of belonging to a certain group sharing a cultural, linguistic and historical heritage. They recognized biological differences between men and women and believed that certain social roles belonged to different genders. Ancient societies were unambiguously patriarchal and hierarchical, with certain political rights held as privileges of well-defined classes. Others were excluded — such as enslaved persons, peasants, women and/or resident aliens (even when living in the same country for generations), who had little or no rights.
Funerary portrait panel of a deceased young man with busts of Isis and Sarapis.
Encaustic painting on wood; Egypt; Roman Imperial period, ca. 200-250 CE. The Menil Collection, Houston, 1984-45 DJ
!["Standing Hermaphroditus" The child of Hermes and Aphrodite standing in voluptuous contrapposto, holding a draped mantle behind the lower body. Marble sculpture; Egypt[?]; Roman Imperial period, ca. 1st century CE. On loan from the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, 23.167](https://tampamuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/WAM-23.167-683x1024.jpg)
The child of Hermes and Aphrodite, standing in voluptuous contrapposto, holding a draped mantle behind the lower body.
Marble sculpture; Egypt[?]; Roman Imperial period, ca. 1st century CE. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, 23.167
Watch an Art Perspectives Episode: In this episode, Branko van Oppen, the Richard E. Perry Curator of Greek and Roman Art, takes us on a tour of the Identity in the Ancient World exhibit at the Tampa Museum of Art. Through themes like masculinity, femininity, intimacy, and ethnicity, this exhibition encourages reflection on both the differences and similarities between ancient and contemporary understandings of identity.
Watch the Antiquities Circle Lecture: Dr. Laura McClure (University of Wisconsin-Madison) discusses the critical religious roles of women in classical Athens, both in civic and domestic contexts. Citizen women participated in public festivals honoring the gods, and they performed more private rituals during weddings and funerals, among other activities. Women could also serve as priestesses, as dedicators, and as public benefactors.
Explore a 3D Scan of the Exhibition: A 360° virtual tour through the exhibition of Identity in the Ancient World is provided by the University of South Florida’s Institute for Digital Exploration (USF IDEx), courtesy of Dr. Davide Tanasi. You can experience the works on display in the gallery from the comfort of your own home!