River God
- Date
- 3rd C. AD?, Roman
- Museum
- Manisa, Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum, 324
- Museum Inventory No.
- 324
- Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
- S61.003
- Material
- Marble, Stone
- Object Type
- Sculpture
- Sculpture Type
- Other Relief, Mythological Figure, Human Figure
- Site
- Sardis
- Sector
- HoB
- Trench
- HoB
- B-Grid Coordinates
- *97.44 - 97.12
- Findspot
- HoB basin between units 7 and 15.
- Description
A youthful, unbearded river god holds a single reed in his r. hand and reclines on a rock in which a male head is carved. The lower part of his body is covered by a cloth, making a series of parallel folds over the legs; a roll of the material at the top of the garment sweeps up over his l. arm. In the upper l. corner of the field is incised a hammer and chisel. Surrounding the panel is a molded frame. Perhaps the piece was used as a fountain.
Although simple in design, the style is fairly crude; the r. arm is too large for the body, and there is little modeling of arms or torso. Claw chisel marks are still evident on both figure and background. Even the insertion of large sculptor’s tools by incision is crude. A date in the 3rd C. A.D. seems likely.
- Condition
Marble.
Frame of the slab somewhat damaged; and two pour-hollows cut on lower side, presumably as later additions. Surface heavily worn, particularly on the face and torso.
- Dimensions
- H. 0.822; W. 0.96; D. 0.145; W. of molded frame 0.12; L. figure 0.705.
- Comments
- For this type of draped river god, cf. Hommel, Figurengiebeln, figs. 2 and 14; Brilliant, Gesture, 102, fig. 2:120; and Franke, Kleinasien zur Romerzeit, no. 210 (a coin, Gallienic).
- See Also
- Bibliography
- Published: Hanfmann, Letters, 87, fig. 63.
- Author
- NHR