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Fragment of male athletic torso, frontal view. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)
Fragment of Male Athletic Torso
Report 2: Sculpture from Sardis: The Finds through 1975
(1978)
Cat. 75
- Date
- Later Flavian or early 2nd C. AD, Roman
- Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
- S66.016
- Material
- Marble, Stone
- Object Type
- Sculpture
- Sculpture Type
- Athlete, Human Figure
- Site
- Sardis
- Sector
- B
- Trench
- BE-H 66
- Locus
- B BE-H
- B-Grid Coordinates
- E11.7 / N78.8 *97.58
- Findspot
- B
- Description
Movement of figure was to proper l. Only abdomen, r. hip, and pubic hair are preserved. Seating for a short pinhole to attach penis is within pubic hair. Navel, which does not come on center axis, but has a very naturalistic skinfold over it. The fat fold at pubic triangle and modeling of muscle at linea alba also show refined anatomical knowledge.
Whether athlete or emperor, this is outstanding workmanship of the later Flavian period or possibly early 2nd C.
- Condition
Large-grained marble. Whitmore: compares with Miletus marble.
Surface split off at crotch. Discolored from fire on r. side and a bit on l.
- Dimensions
- H. 0.28; W. 0.355; D. 0.15.
- Comments
- See Also
- Bibliography
- Author
- NHR