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Torso of Herakles or male figure, frontal view. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)
Torso of Herakles
Report 2: Sculpture from Sardis: The Finds through 1975
(1978)
Cat. 114
- Date
- Late Hellenistic or early Roman, Hellenistic or Roman
- Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
- S73.002
- Material
- Marble, Stone
- Object Type
- Sculpture
- Sculpture Type
- Mythological Figure, Human Figure
- Site
- Sardis
- Sector
- B
- Trench
- TY 73
- Locus
- B BE-A
- B-Grid Coordinates
- E10.00 / N7.50 *96.50
- Findspot
- BE-A, floor level.
- Description
The lion skin tied on the chest is summarily rendered on the back like a cloak. Crude abrasive is used. R. arm was raised, l. lowered. Surface at hips very smooth, with round drilled hole (W. 0.009; D. 0.007; narrower hole within, D. 0.007), showing that lower part was pieced on.
Remarkably exaggerated “Pergamene-Rhodian” Laokoon-type muscles. Possibly advancing with club raised in r. hand and r. leg forward. If a Roman copy, the workmanship is excellent; a late Hellenistic (120-50 B.C.) original is not impossible.
- Condition
Bluish gray, densely (medium) grained marble with white, yellow, and bluish gray alternating.
Neck to hips preserved. Both arms missing.
- Dimensions
- H. 0.146; W. at waist 0.08, at shoulders 0.123.
- Comments
- Cf. Cat. 115 (Fig. 241).
- See Also
- Bibliography
- Author
- NHR