Isis

This Roman sculpture of Isis is from the first half of the 2nd century AD, but has been modeled after the Greek Isis from the 4th century BC. Made from both black and white marble this sculpture is very eye catching. Isis the worshiped as the goddess of  motherhood, magic, and fertility, also known as the ideal mother, protector of the dead and goddess of children. (Roman Isis, 2nd century AD to the left)

As well as being known in Rome, Isis was     

known in Egypt, but she was referred to

as Aset, wife of Osiris (god of the dead)

and mother of Horus (lord of the sky). On 

her Egyptian headdress there is a throne,

making the pharaoh that sat upon the

throne her child. She has also been

associated with cow horns and a sun disk,

very similar to Hathor's headdress. (Egyptian painting of Isis to the right) 

                                                                                                                         

Emperor Caligula (ruler of Rome) was more willing to accept eastern religions, compared to previous rulers. Caligula created Navigium Isidis, an annual festival in honor of Isis. On the Arch of Trajan, there is a relief of Caligula is giving an offering to Isis and Horus. The belief of Isis spread everywhere, and Iseums (temples) were quite relevant. Pompeii being one of the places, a temple was built in honor of Isis. Paintings and other things were kept safe under the ash from Mt. Vesuvius. (The Temple of Isis in Pompeii, Italy to the right)                                                             

                                                                                                                                                                         

In her left hand she holds an oinochoe (a pot) filled with sacred water from the Nile River, and in her right hand she holds a sistrum, only the handle still remains. The sistrum is a noise maker that represents eternal life. (Greek Isis holding a sistrum, 4th Century BC to the left)

                                                                                                                                          I chose this sculpture of the goddess Isis because it is made from both, black and white marble. I think that it would have been harder to make the Roman sculpture, compared to the Greek sculpture. I feel like the story of Isis could go on forever because she has been apart of so many cultures for so long. The Roman sculpture is currently located in Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria, (the link below shows her in a pan of the museum).
                                                                                                         
http://www.khm.at/en/visit/collections/collection-of-greek-and-roman-antiquities/