• r2-119-10
    Head of satyr, three-quarter view. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)

Head of Satyr

Date
2nd C. or 3rd C. AD?, Roman
Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
S72.005
Material
Marble, Stone
Object Type
Sculpture
Sculpture Type
Mythological Figure
Site
Sardis
Sector
B
Trench
B 72 Test
Locus
B BE-B
B-Grid Coordinates
E25.0 / N3.0 *96.40
Findspot
BE-B
Description

The head is turned to its r. The open mouth is gracefully curved. Inner corners of eyes are set deeply under the heavy brow. It has pointed satyr ears. The hair is in locks brushed loosely away from face, separated by wide, deep channels. A fillet is shown by a broad groove. Hair from crown is arranged in regular swirls to fillet; continues down over back of neck.

The face is modeled with sensitivity but the treatment of hair is somewhat coarse. Perhaps a 2nd or 3rd C. A.D. copy of a Hellenistic satyr possibly from the “Invitation to the Dance” group.

Condition

White marble.

Head and part of neck preserved. Surface mostly damaged.

Dimensions
H. 0.093; W. 0.065.
Comments
See Also
Bibliography
Published: BASOR211, 27, fig. 7. For satyr of “Invitation to Dance,” See Bieber, Hellenistic Age,139; Brinkerhoff, New Examples; Brinkerhoff, Antioch, 39-40, figs. 58-62.
Author
NHR