| Category |
Sub-Category |
Detail |
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Identity; Possible Symbolism; Definition |
| LAUREL WREATH |
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worn by Apollo, the Muses & others - mythological & historical - deemed as being under his influence or possessing his gifts; held aloft by Nike, goddess of Victory; Zeus/Jove; depending on context, a symbol of refinement or of victory |
| LEAVES |
Grain |
without ear of wheat/barley |
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Persephone (Kore, Proserpina, Proserpine)/ nymph Arethusa if dolphin(s) also present |
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Grape |
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Bacchus/Dionysus; bacchante/maenad; Cybele; Ariadne |
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Ivy |
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Bacchus/Dionysus; bacchante/maenad; Ariadne |
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Laurel |
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Apollo; Muses; Zeus/Jove; Athena/Minerva; Mars/Ares; mortal heroes; Roman emperorors; celebrated poets, artists & philosophers, ancient & modern; in general signifies triumphs of intellect or arms |
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Oak |
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Zeus/Jove |
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Palm frond |
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with winged woman: Nike, goddes of Victory; carried by a figure with a halo: a martyr saint; religious context but no halo: a martyr, sometimes one of the unnamed 'virgin martyrs' who do not have haloes |
| MASK |
Theatrical |
frowning, tragedy |
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Muse Melpomene |
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smiling, comedy |
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Muse Thalia |
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Helmet visor |
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Athena/Minerva, face of Jove on visor |
| MOON |
Crescent |
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on brow/head: Diana/Artemis or Luna; above veiled woman: Night/Nyx; woman standing on: Mary |
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Man in the Moon |
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sometimes included in depictions of Diana/Artemis
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| MOUNTAIN |
2 peaks |
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Vesuvius, usually in background of scene with water, Bay of Naples |
| MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS |
Cymbals |
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associated with the revels of Bacchus/Dionysus |
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Drum |
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associated with the revels of Bacchus/Dionysus, tympanum
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Flute, double |
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associated with the revels of Bacchus/Dionysus; n.b., looks like our recorder, not the transverse flute of today |
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Flute, single |
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ambiguous, other clues needed to decide if nymph, bacchante or Psyche; n.b., looks like our recorder, not the transverse flute of today |
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Harp |
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King David; often in scenes of Cupid with Venus or Psyche; may be small or large enough to sit on ground, is shorter & straight on the end near the player, taller & often curved on the far end |
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Kithara |
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similar to lyre, but with sound box at base, sometimes carried by Apollo instead of lyre |
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Lyre |
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Apollo, Muses Erato & Terpsichore, Orpheus; an easily portable instrument, lyres differ from harps in having a symmetrical shape curved on both sides, often seen poking over the figure's shoulder rather than complete & can be confused with arrows in a quiver |
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Pan pipes, syrinx |
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Pan; woodland nymph |
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Pipe organ |
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St. Cecilia |
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Sistrum |
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associated with the revels of Bacchus/Dionysus |
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Trumpet |
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blown to announce arriving royalty, proclamation, revelation, depending on context |
| NUDE |
Man |
with cloak |
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full figure standing in chariot, cloak billowing behind: Apollo or Mars/Ares
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Woman |
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Venus/Aphrodite is traditionally shown with bared breasts/upper torso, when seated lap is usually lightly covered |
| ORB |
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held up in hand or under foot of seated woman |
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Muse Urania |
| PALETTE |
Artist's |
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seen most often with painter Raphael, but can also be in more general scene |
| PALM TREE |
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indicates scene is in Middle East, common in Biblical subjects, e.g., Rebecca at the Well
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| PLINTH |
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block or column supporting effigy of a god in worship scenes or otherwise indicating the figure is elevated; the head of Mercury/Hermes directly at top of block is called a herm, they were guides for travelers, in a scene with mortals an indication they are traveling |
| QUILL PEN |
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Nike inscribing on shield or tablet; very large: probably a palm frond, attribute of Nike & Christian martyrs |
| SCROLL |
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Muse Clio; Apollo, some of the sibyls
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| SKULL |
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St. Mary Magdalen may have a skull under her hand or near her; always symbolic of death, it is a memento mori, a reminder of mortality |
| SOLDIER |
Roman |
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see centurion |
| STAFF |
Flowering |
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St. Joseph |
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Pincone headed |
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Bacchus/Dionysus, a 'thyrsus' |
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Ribbons |
criss-crossed |
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Mercury/Hermes |
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Snakes |
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caduceus; the snake on Aesculepius's staff got confused with the 2 ribbons on Mercury's herald's staff so that this attribute can appear with either figure |
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Wings at top |
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kerykeion: Mercury/Hermes |
| STAR |
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in scene with anchor: Polaris, the North Star; in sky near woman with flowers: the Morning Star with Aurora
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| STOOL |
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4 legged |
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a throne, symbol of royalty |
| SUN |
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sometimes with Day, in jugate cameos with Night; 2nd & 5th Hours of the Day
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| SWIRLS |
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bottom of composition |
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clouds, indicating Olympus or heaven, depending on context; curlicues decorative only |
| TIPTOES |
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figure standing on tiptoes |
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indicates terrestial figure is dancing; when in clouds, one indicator of a goddess; see also Three Graces |
| TOOLS |
Bident |
long handle, 2 tines/prongs |
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Hades/Pluto |
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Trident |
long handle, 3 barbed prongs |
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for spearing fish: Neptune/Poseidon |
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Hammer |
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Vulcan/Hephaestus |
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Scythe |
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Saturn; see also Days of the Week |
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Shepherd's crook |
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Paris; Muse Thalia; Apollo
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Sickle |
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Ceres; Biblical scene: Ruth
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| TORCH |
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boy with wings carrying |
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Cupid; the Genius of Light when seen with Apollo's procession or Aurora/Eos; also with B. Thovaldsen's & some other representations of Day
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can look similar to cornucopia |
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held by eagle: companion of Aurora/Eos, daybreak; held by winged boy: Cupid, Genius of Light |
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eagle clutching |
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usually seen with Day or Aurora/Eos, who bring the morning light; the eagle hunts by day |
| TREE |
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in scene with woman, small buildings |
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standard part of the many generic country scene cameos |
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Laurel |
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woman turning into one: Daphne; effigy of wreathed man in one: Apollo
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Olive |
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associated with Athena/Minerva, who gave it to mankind, difficult to distinguish from laurel without other clues |
| TRIPOD |
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support for brazier, also name for entire apparatus, used to make burnt offerings or for sweet/salubrious herbs |
| TROJAN |
Man |
helmeted |
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possibly a Trojan hero of the Trojan War, but more likely one of the Greeks, who won that contest; other possibilities are Mars & Athena
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| TURBAN |
Woman |
desert scene/well |
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Rebecca at the Well |
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Young woman |
looking back over shoulder |
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Beatrice Cenci |
| URN |
Lidded/footed |
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may appear in scenes indicating mourning; by itself: mourning |
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Open |
figure pouring from |
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female holding under arm: Aurora/Eos, Iris, personification of well/spring/small water course; male holding or leaning on: personification of a river; either gender: Aquarius |
| VEIL |
Long |
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Night/Nyx; Muse Melpomene; Vesta/Hestia, priestess, seer; Virgin Mary; symbol of modesty, secrecy or darkness
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Short |
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like a handkerchief draped at back of head, an occipite, Roman fashion for married women seen often on Hera/Juno, Ceres also Day
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