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Bust of Elpidike, Berlin Staatliche Museen 793. (Courtesy of the Staatliche Museen, Berlin)
Bust of Elpidike
Report 2: Sculpture from Sardis: The Finds through 1975
(1978)
Cat. 255
- Date
- 3rd C. AD, Roman
- Museum
- Berlin State Museums, 793
- Museum Inventory No.
- 793
- Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
- Berlin 793
- Material
- Marble, Stone
- Object Type
- Sculpture
- Sculpture Type
- Funerary Relief, Human Figure
- Inscription Text
Ἐλπιδηφόρος καὶ Ὀνήσιμος Ἐλπιδί- [κη]ν γλυκυτάτην μνείας χάριν.
- Inscription Translation
Elpidephoros and Onesimos (set up this effigy of) the sweetest Elpidike as a memorial.
- Inscription Comment
- Site
- Sardis
- Findspot
- Found in Sardis. Acquired in Smyrna in 1854.
- Description
The bust of a woman is framed by an arched niche with a pilaster on each side, with simple capital and base. The head is turned slightly to the l. Her hair is parted in the middle and drawn behind her ears, where it falls in heavy locks. The drapery, executed in linear fashion, consists of a V-necked upper garment and a shawl drawn around the shoulders and tied between the breasts.
Below the niche is an inscription:
According to G. M. A. Hanfmann the size of the bust and the coiffure suggest the 3rd C.
- Condition
White marble.
Complete except for chipping around edges. Face is worn.
- Dimensions
- H. 0.48; W. 0.32-0.385; Th. 0.115; letters 0.014-0.02.
- Comments
- See Also
- Bibliography
- Published:, no. 793, p. 303; Sardis VII, 131, fig. 141, from which the translation has been taken; H. Jucker, Das Bildnis I, 27, G 16, II pl. 5; Pfuhl-Möbius, Ostgriechischen Grabreliefs, no. 2134, pl. 306.
- Author
- NHR