• r2-101-10
    Female head fragment, three-quarter view. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)

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