Ode on Some Grecian Urns

Head of marble figure of Hera wearing a sphendone, Roman, AD 30 - AD 180, marble. (c) The Trustees of the British Museum 2012. All rights reserved.

Kim Kardashian’s curves get all the ink these days, but legend has it the woman who launched a thousand tweets couldn’t hold a candle to Helen of Troy. And though you won’t catch the sultry spartan at Portland Art Museum’s exhibition The Body Beautiful in Ancient Greece (Oct. 6 – Jan. 13), you will get a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of more than 120 priceless pieces from The British Museum’s epic collection of Greek and Roman art.

This traveling presentation features sculptures, helmets, jewelry and the promised urns — all exploring the human form. From busts of the day’s brightest thinkers to bowls adorned with men of action, the exhibition paints a dynamic picture of how the ancient culture’s view of the body changed over time. Some items date back to the second millennium BC, and this is the first time this exhibition will be shown in the United States.

In addition to the ancient objects, the museum is producing a full slate of programs to help bring the pieces to life. From “Ageless Beauty,” Oct. 17′s expert medical panel discussion of the past, present and future of beauty; to the weekly “Bacchanal Ballroom,” a Thursday night after-hours, toga-optional party in the exhibit halls, this exhibition will be the place to see and be seen. And if you’re looking for some cocktail conversation, try this bit of trivia: The family name Kardashian, coincidentally enough, is Armenian for “stone carver.”