Jack and Mary Ann Frable Curator of Ancient Art at VMFA
Richmond, VA
Joined August 2008
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Lisa Brody retweeted
A tortoise, a Roman shield, a centuries-old painting — all under one roof.
The Collection Studies Center at @YaleWestCampus unites experts who care for and study thousands of rare objects — and recently offered a behind-the-scenes look at their work. bit.ly/4nMTMSP
ALT Two people examining ancient artifacts in a museum display case.
ALT A hand reaches towards a detailed classical painting featuring multiple figures in various poses, rich in color and expression.
ALT A group of people observing a large tortoise on a table in a classroom setting.
ALT An ancient Roman shield with intricate designs displayed in a museum exhibit, with glass cases of other artifacts in the background.
Lisa Brody retweeted
Snaps from my recent trip to @YaleArtGallery! Fantastic to see some of the Dura-Europos materials in person ✨
Lisa Brody retweeted
“Focal Point,” a series highlighting noteworthy items from Yale’s vast collections, takes a closer look at a painted shield once wielded by Roman soldiers.
This Roman “scutum” — held at the Yale University Art Gallery — is the only known surviving example of the shields used by Roman legionaries, dating to about 256 C.E.
Learn more and see other items in our “Focal Point” series: bit.ly/4jEaeDg #Yale
ALT Scutum (Shield), mid-3rd century Image courtesy of the Yale University Art Gallery
Lisa Brody retweeted
The oldest manuscript of the Diatesseron comes from the Greek parchment fragment known as Dura Parchment 24 (P. Dura 24), discovered in Dura-Europos, Syria, in 1933. This fragment, cataloged as Dura Parch. 10 at Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, is dated paleographically to the early 3rd century, likely before 256 CE, when Dura-Europos was abandoned.
Lisa Brody retweeted
The earliest known images of Jesus originate from a Christian building at Dura-Europos in Syria, the world’s earliest known house church, dated ca. AD 232. The frescoes from the baptistery depict Jesus healing the paralytic and Jesus walking on water. #Easter
Yale University Art Gallery, USA.
artgallery.yale.edu/collecti…
artgallery.yale.edu/collecti…
Explore some highlights from the ancient Mediterranean world at the Yale University Art Gallery @Yale @YaleArtGallery
your.yale.edu/youryale/world…
One of the many extraordinary objects in Yale’s Dura-Europos collection
news.yale.edu/2025/02/21/pai…
The archives from Yale's collaborative excavations at Dura-Europos and Gerasa have long been on JSTOR, but finally there is a link to these public collections on the Yale University Art Gallery website.
artgallery.yale.edu/research…
Lisa Brody retweeted
Wonderful detail from the world's only surviving intact Roman scutum from Dura-Europos (photo taken at the @britishmuseum last summer) - winged victory and an eagle.
Lisa Brody retweeted
Lovely textile fragment from NW China dating to the 3rdC, from the Roman town of Dura Europos - a fine example of #SilkRoads long-distance trade
It makes me so happy that this publication is still useful to people wanting to know more about Dura-Europos, and that its now available for free online. One of my favorite projects!
The catalogue of the 2011 exhibition Dura-Europos: Crossroads of Antiquity includes some military equipment and is available for download from the newly restored Internet Archive (direct link to PDF): tinyurl.com/ycd594x2
ALT Cover of Dura-Europos: Crossroads of Antiquity catalogue.
Lisa Brody retweeted
COMING SOON: ‘Artifact War’ from Mystery Box Film, a documentary that follows the work of @alazmamr @Adnan77227624 and @AnthroPaulicy as they track trafficked Syrian antiquities from war zone looting sites to social media sites
mysterybox.us/artifact-war
austinfilmfestival.com
Lisa Brody retweeted
In the 1930s, archaeologists made a stunning discovery at the ancient Roman city of Dura-Europos in modern-day Syria—the only intact Roman legionary shield ever found. This remarkable find offered an unprecedented glimpse into Roman military life, as shields made from wood and leather rarely survive the passage of time. Known as a scutum, the large, rectangular shield was a critical piece of Roman defense, used to form the famous "testudo" formation in battle.
What makes this shield so unique is not only its preservation but the circumstances that saved it. During a siege by the Sasanian Empire in the 3rd century AD, Roman defenders buried parts of the city, including the shield, to strengthen their walls. The combination of rapid burial and the dry, desert climate preserved the shield for nearly two millennia, protecting it from decay caused by moisture and pests.
This artifact stands as a singular example of Roman craftsmanship and battlefield ingenuity, transporting us back to the final desperate days of Dura-Europos and offering a rare, invaluable connection to the ancient world.
Yale University Art Gallery
#drthehistories
Lisa Brody retweeted
Leo
Dura-Europos shield again for #FrescoFriday. This time, the quite human-like looking lion from the bottom.
Lisa Brody retweeted
Painted walls from a shrine to the god Mithras- the Mithraeum - at Dura-Europos, Syria. Commissioned in 168–69 CE by Palmyrene archers serving in the Roman army. The cult of Mithras attained popularity amongst soldiers and merchants in the Roman period #FrescoFriday
Lisa Brody retweeted
House call: A new study rethinks early Christian landmark: ▶️ news.yale.edu/2024/08/12/hou…
#JRA #archaeology @Yale
