• r2-55-10
    Woman with archaistic drapery, Manisa 385, front view. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)
  • r2-55-20
    Woman with archaistic drapery, Manisa 385, three-quarter view. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)
  • r2-55-30
    Woman with archaistic drapery, Manisa 385, three-quarter view. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)
  • r2-55-40
    Woman with archaistic drapery, Manisa 385, detail of foot. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)

Marble Sculpture of a Woman with Archaistic Drapery

Date
Hellenistic or Roman
Museum
Manisa, Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum, 385
Museum Inventory No.
385
Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
Manisa 385
Material
Marble, Stone
Object Type
Sculpture
Sculpture Type
Draped Woman
Site
Sardis
Findspot
Found in 1955 N of the Theater.
Description

The woman stands with l. foot forward slightly, her weight on the r. leg. The overfold of the himation is attached at her r. shoulder, and hangs in diagonal folds to her upper thighs. The pattern is elaborated by two nearly symmetrical falls of drapery: one from her I. breast, and the other made by a clump of the drapery tucked under a diagonal overfold under her r. breast. The long piece of the himation falls to shin height in relatively few loops, which are played against the otherwise smooth surface in a lively pattern. The material of the chiton, seen at the legs and at the r. breast, is portrayed by numerous wavy lines chiseled into the surface. Four columnar folds of the chiton fall between the feet, and seem to come out of the central fold of the himation. There is also a heavy fold at each side. The lady wore sandals with high platform soles.

The style seems to support a dating in the late 2nd or early 1st C. B.C., and in any case the style is late Hellenistic. It certainly must be placed before the middle of the 1st C. A.D., when a strongly Roman character appears.

Condition
Local marble. Missing are head and neck, r. and l. arms and l. foot, all of which were originally dowelled to the body of the statue. Horizontal breaks across the chest and lower legs were caused by later damage.
Dimensions
H. 1.96; max. W. ca. 0.55. Base: H. 0.065; P.L. 0.62; P.W. ca. 0.42.
Comments
See Also
Bibliography
Published: Hanfmann-Polatkan, Three Sculptures, 60-63, pl. 11. Harrison, Agora XI, 57, 90 shows how the archaistic qualities are rooted in the Hellenistic tradition. G.M.A. Hanfmann, however, has suggested a date after the earthquake of A.D. 17.
Author
NHR