Gaia

Description Many religions were syncretistic, meaning that as they grew and came into contact with other religions, they adopted new beliefs and modified their practices to reflect their changing environment. Both Greek and Roman religious beliefs were deeply influenced by the so-called mystery religions of the East, including the Egyptian cult of Isis, which revealed beliefs and practices to the initiated that remained unexplained, or mysterious, to the uninitiated. Most popular Roman cults had associations with these mystery religions and included the prospect of an afterlife.

The bust of the earth-goddess Gaia, suckling a child at her breast, would have decorated a vessel.

Conservation

Examined in preparation for case retro-fit and re-installation.

Date	Description	Narrative
12/31/1969	Examination	Examined
6/07/1957	Treatment	cleaned
1/14/1965	Treatment	cleaned
6/10/1983	Treatment	cleaned
6/10/1983	Treatment	cleaned; coated; other

Exhibitions

• Designed for Use: Ancient Industrial Arts. The Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore. 1983.

Provenance [From Baliana, Egypt]; Dikran Kelekian, New York and Paris; purchased by Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1914; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters, 1914