Controlling the passage between the Black and Caspian Seas towards distant India, Vani, a proud Hellenistic city-sanctuary established in the 3rd century BC in the Lesser Caucasus, preserves a characteristic treasure of Colchian goldsmithery, one of the wonders of the heritage exhibition of the Art & History museum in Brussels. In addition to bronze oil lamps representing the kidnapping of Ganymede by a Zeus-eagle and bronze male statuettes decorated with gold jewelry, placed according to some chthonic rite in holes dug in the rock, twisted diadems were found there. ending with diamonds decorated with lions and wild boars or confronting bulls, which would not have looked out of place on the head of Maria Callas playing Medea for Pasolini.

Extract from the article by Emmanuel Daydé published in No. 109 of the Art Absolument magazine. Published on January 11, 2024.

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