Image Archive
Ancient Greeks & Romans were verifiably diverse in appearance, as might be expected given their Mediterranean context. Yet most modern people still view them as ‘white’ (or, at least, ‘white’ by default). Why? 1) Europe & the US (as a former European colony) consider themselves heirs to ancient Greek & Roman culture, so assume ancient Greeks & Romans were ‘white Europeans,’ too; and, 2) Europeans & Americans have long been taught that ancient Greeks & Romans were ‘white Europeans’ — a false narrative that became especially prominent in the 1700s CE as support for the European belief in ‘white’ European exceptionalism (superiority), and as justification for colonialism & race-based slavery. This fabricated ‘history’ was taught for long enough that many people now accept it as true/real. To be clear: evidence for ancient diversity has always existed; it was just not reported. However, today’s research & teaching about history not only tends to be more comprehensive (so investigates all human activity everywhere), but more interested in verifiable, accurate reconstruction. Further, visual evidence for ancient diversity has become more accessible on-line, better situating us to start correcting the modern, distorted, Eurocentric narrative.
Since today’s students are familiar with the idea that people we would call ‘white’ lived in ancient Greece & Rome, this archive focuses on evidence for Greco-Roman antiquity’s diversity. It consists of two sub-archives:
- Public domain Images. These images are not covered by copyright; they are legal to download & use for educational or commercial purposes. Most have been made available for use by the museums where they are currently on display. Even so, for reasons of professional courtesy/educational purposes, please cite & thank their source (whose information appears along with the image description).
- Images Covered by Creative Commons Licenses. These images are entirely legal to use for educational purposes/in educational settings — as long as you include the proper citation (included with each image). Most are covered by Creative Commons licenses, though some require different types of citation. Most have been made available for educational use by their museums; a few are personal photographs made available for educational purposes by their photographers. Teachers & students can legally use them for teaching or school projects. But they cannot be used for commercial purposes (i.e., do not use them to make money for yourself or another; do not use them to promote any money-making venture). Creative Commons Licenses require a link to the license, so you can easily investigate what you can or cannot do if you have further questions.
*Note: Do not assume that ‘black’ or non-‘white’ individuals must have been enslaved. Slavery in Greco-Roman antiquity was not based on skin-color. People were enslaved because of poverty, bad luck, war, or as legal punishment; anyone of any background could be enslaved. Indeed, ancient Greeks & Romans lived & worked alongside people of many different skin colors & ethnicities, as one might expect given their Mediterranean context. Evidence is required to determine whether someone in ancient art is enslaved. Do not assume that ‘black’/non-‘white’ individuals were not Greek or Roman; they could be. Do not assume that portrayals of ‘black’, non-‘white’, or non-Greek/Roman people were designed to denigrate them (either individually or as representatives of ‘people like them’). Traits/scenarios that we might see as ‘demeaning’ may not have been read that way by ancient audiences, who had no experience with our modern constructs of racism, race-based slavery, colonialism, or racist propaganda. And if an artifact can reasonably be read as demeaning, its intent may not align with our modern expectations: it could target a concept (not skin color/ethnicity) or a person/historical incident, evoke a scene from a comedy (where each character was mockable), etc. We must ‘read’ ancient artifacts carefully.
For articles discussing how modern racism can interfere with our understanding of ancient art & archaeology, see:
Hemingway, C. & S. Hemingway. Jan. 1, 2008. “Africans in Ancient Greek Art”. www.MetMuseum.org/essays https://www.metmuseum.org/essays/africans-in-ancient-greek-art
Gaither, P. Dec. 15, 2020. “Rethinking Descriptions of Black Africans in Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Art.” Getty.edu https://www.getty.edu/news/rethinking-descriptions-of-black-africans-in-greek-etruscan-and-roman-art/
Derbew, S. March 17, 2022. “Blackness in Antiquity.” Aeon.co https://aeon.co/essays/how-does-an-ancient-greek-cup-challenge-anti-black-racism
Pearson, S. Aug. 3, 2020. “More than Marble – Diversity in the Altes Museum”. Museum and the City: Blog der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin. https://blog.smb.museum/more-than-marble-diversity-in-the-altes-museum/
