The Tampa Museum of Art's Greek and Roman collection is on loan to the
Daytona Museum of Arts and Sciences while TMA is housed in its temporary
location at
2306 N. Howard Avenue in Tampa. Construction of the new museum
facility in downtown Tampa's Curtis Hixon Park will begin in early 2008, with
the opening of the new building expected in the fall of 2009.
Antiquities
The Tampa Museum of Art houses one of the largest
collections of Greek and Roman antiquities in the Southeast. The Joseph Veach Noble
Collection forms the core of this important collection known for its outstanding selection
of painted Greek pottery, including one of the finest groups of South Italian vases.
Pottery, sculpture, glass and metal artifacts reveal the exciting history of these ancient
cultures.
Horse
Greek, Thessalian, Geometric, about 725-700 B.C.
Bronze
Collection of the Tampa Museum of Art
Museum Purchase 95.4
Black-Figure Neck Amphora
Attributed to the Hyblaea Class
Greek, Sicilian, ca. 550-525 B.C.
Ceramic
Collection of the Tampa Museum of Art, Museum Purchase 1986.125
Greek vases provide one
of the finest resources available for interpretation of Greek
culture in the sixth and fifth centuries B.C. Used as a container in
antiquity for liquids such as wine or olive oil, this amphora is
decorated with a scene from Greek mythology--the death of the
centaur Nessos at the hand of Herakles, commonly known to us by his
Latin name, Hercules.
Black-Figure Neck Amphora
Attributed to the Group of Bologna 33
Greek, Attic, ca. 510 B.C.
Ceramic
Collection of the Tampa Museum of Art
Museum Purchase with funds provided by Friends of the Arts and
Pavilion XV
2000.43
Herakles, one of the most important
figures in Greek mythology, is depicted in the company of Athena and
Hermes on the front side of this amphora. Herakles, commonly known
today by his Roman name, Hercules, was credited as the founder of
special athletic contests, the ancient Olympic games, held during
the religious festivals honoring Zeus at the sanctuary of Olympia.
As such, Herakles became a role model for Greek youth and a patron
of athletic pursuits; he was an inspiration for youths to attain the
unattainable. With hopes of an Olympic victory for themselves, and
like Herakles, victorious in all of his Twelve Labors and destined
to live among the the Olympian gods, ancient Greek youth were
encouraged to push their athletic abilities to limits of human
performance.
For more images of Greek vases in the Tampa Museum of Art antiquities collection go to
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/. In the search box located in the upper right corner, type in
"Tampa" On the
Perseus Look Up Tool, select
"81 Sections" for
a list of 81 Greek vases available to view.
