Athena-Isis-Tyche

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A statuette of Athena-Isis-Tyche from the British Museum


A Bronze Statuette of Athena-Isis-Tyche from the British Museum

Roman, 2nd Century CE


The BM card says: "Divinities bringing together the functions of several deities were popular, particularly in Roman times. The wisdom of Athena, the benevolence of Isis, and the chance bounty of Tyche are combined in this figure. The steering bar, once held in her right hand, is lost."

The Romans would have called these deities Minerva, Isis and Fortuna; though it is possible that because of the eastern mysticism associated with the worship of Isis, they would in this case have been thinking of the Greek originals. Isis was a relatively late adoption into Roman culture and was not differentiated from the Egyptian original. The ægis (breastplate) with Medusa's head belongs to Athena; the headdress to Isis; the (lost) rudder and the cornucopia are Tyche's.

The photograph was taken with flash, through glass, with a Canon Ixus 60 in January 2008.


The content of this page was last updated on 20 January 2008