Students often read about ancient times at school. It can be difficult to picture how people lived during this time period. Seeing ancient objects at a Museum can help you to picture how people lived in the past.

Greek houses were filled with painted pottery of many different shapes and sizes: dinner plates, wine cups, pitchers, storage jars, oil flasks, perfume jars. We can learn about life and customs from the painted scenes on Greek pottery because thousands have survived. 

A hydria is a vessel used for carrying water from the public fountain house. The scenes around the shoulder of this vase represent the chase of young women by a beardless youth wrapped only in a cloak and carrying two spears. He may be the hero Theseus. An older bearded man, perhaps the girls' father, stands nearby. The energetic chase may suggest the dangers of going unaccompanied to the fountains.

Hydria-Theseus pursuing a woman. Red-figured.

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Worcester Art Museum

Water Jar (Hydria): Theseus Pursuing Women

Hygieia was the Goddess of Health in Greek mythology. The Worcester Art Museum has this ancient sculpture of Hygieia. From her name, we have the word hygiene, which are the steps people take to stay clean and healthy.

Excavated at Antioch-on-the-Orontes, this is probably a later copy of a Hellenistic original made at Pergamon, Asia Minor, in the 2nd century BC. Hygeia is usually represented holding a serpent, symbol of health. Parts of a serpent may still be seen on the preserved portion of the right forearm and below the left breast.

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Hygieia, Goddess of Health

The Worcester Art Museum's sculpture was excavated, or removed from the earth in 1936.  She was found in one of the public baths from Antioch-on-the-Orontes.

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