Greek. Wreath, 3rd century–2nd century B.C.E. Gold, 3 15/16 x 10 1/4 x 11 13/16 in. (10 x 26 x 30 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of George D. Pratt, 26.763. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 26.763_overall01_black_PS22.jpg)
Greek. Wreath, 3rd century–2nd century B.C.E. Gold, 3 15/16 x 10 1/4 x 11 13/16 in. (10 x 26 x 30 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of George D. Pratt, 26.763. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 26.763_overall02_black_PS22.jpg)
Greek. Wreath, 3rd century–2nd century B.C.E. Gold, 3 15/16 x 10 1/4 x 11 13/16 in. (10 x 26 x 30 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of George D. Pratt, 26.763. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 26.763_side_black_PS22.jpg)
Greek. Wreath, 3rd century–2nd century B.C.E. Gold, 3 15/16 x 10 1/4 x 11 13/16 in. (10 x 26 x 30 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of George D. Pratt, 26.763. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 26.763_detail01_black_PS22.jpg)
Greek. Wreath, 3rd century–2nd century B.C.E. Gold, 3 15/16 x 10 1/4 x 11 13/16 in. (10 x 26 x 30 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of George D. Pratt, 26.763. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 26.763_detail02_black_PS22.jpg)
Greek. Wreath, 3rd century–2nd century B.C.E. Gold, 3 15/16 x 10 1/4 x 11 13/16 in. (10 x 26 x 30 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of George D. Pratt, 26.763. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 26.763_detail03_black_PS22.jpg)
Wreath
Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art
The Brooklyn Museum is commemorating its 200th anniversary by spotlighting 200 standout objects in its encyclopedic collection.
This delicate gold wreath is one of a select few that have survived nearly intact since ancient times. Its design imitates wreaths made from plants and distributed at banquets such as the Greek symposium. Specifically, the shape of its intricate leaves and flowers shows that it represents a myrtle plant. Myrtle was related to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and such wreaths were sometimes worn at weddings by both the bride and groom. Gold wreaths were also offered to deities at Greek temples, worn in festival processions, and donned at victory and athletic celebrations. Most surviving Greek gold wreaths, however, have been found at burial sites, which may be where this example is from.
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Gallery Label
In the ancient world, wreaths served many purposes, ranging from adornment to expressions of achievements or social status. Gold wreaths resembling flowers and leaves were used to crown athletic victors. The Egyptian-born Greek writer Athenaeus of Naucratis tells of guests wearing gold wreaths at lavish dinner parties in Alexandria, the Egyptian capital during the period in which this example was made. The nearby mummy portrait shows a man wearing a simpler wreath rendered in gilding.
