Female Head Fragment
- Date
- 2nd half of 3rd C. AD, Roman
- Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
- S72.009
- Material
- Marble, Stone
- Object Type
- Sculpture
- Sculpture Type
- Human Figure, Relief
- Site
- Sardis
- Sector
- B
- Trench
- Syn W 72
- Locus
- B BE-C
- B-Grid Coordinates
- E20.92 / N15.92 *97.66
- Findspot
- BE-C, near limekiln.
- Description
The oblique position of the face suggests a relief. Possibly she is a personification or goddess looking toward a central scene. The eyes are asymmetrical, the pupils circumscribed by incision, irises drilled as near-lozenges. In the corners of the eye are round drill holes. Short but frequent drill runs are in the hair, which rises in back into a superposed double top knot and falls elsewhere in short wavy curls. Left ear entirely visible and sharply described by drill. Well-smoothed nape. Horizontal incisions in forehead.
Profile with strong projection above the eyebrows is very much in Hellenistic tradition. Details, such as eyelids, are delicately captured, and much plastic sense is felt in the face. Excellent late Roman work, perhaps A.D. 250-300.
- Condition
Large-grained marble with large, shiny crystals.
Slightly discolored. Broken on all sides.
- Dimensions
- H. 0.13; W. 0.13; Th. 0.075
- Comments
- See Also
- Bibliography
- Published: BASOR211, 28, fig. 10.
- Author
- NHR