Through Wednesday, April 29, Special Collections in Magill Library is offering a rare chance to see the entire collection of ancient Greek artifacts donated to the College in 1989.
Normally only a few of the fragile objects from the College's collection of ancient Greek artifacts are on display at Magill Library. But through Wednesday, April 29, visitors to the Special Collections department can see all 24 of the artifacts, a bequest from Ernest Allen '40, which date from mid-14th century B.C. to the first half of the 4th century B.C.
Among the extraordinary pieces on exhibit: a painted terracotta fragment from a building façade showing the figure of a griffin; a small protome, or bust, of a goddess, thought to be a votive offering at a shrine; and intricately painted drinking cups and water and oil jugs that depict scenes from mythology and everyday life—including one showing youths playing a game called ephedrismos in which the loser must carry the winner on his or her back. “You can see the entire collection online”, says College Archivist and Special Collections Librarian Diana Franzusoff Peterson.“But seeing them in person is an extraordinary experience.”
