Lifesize Head
- Date
- Late 1st C. AD, Roman
- Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
- S65.007
- Material
- Marble, Stone
- Object Type
- Sculpture
- Sculpture Type
- Portrait
- Site
- Sardis
- Sector
- Syn
- Trench
- Syn 65
- B-Grid Coordinates
- E114.9 / N26.6 *97.36
- Findspot
- Syn N colonnade, next to N-S wall
- Description
The l. eye has a smooth surface, with no pupil or iris marked, and a carefully worked lid. The inner corner, with tear duct, is especially fine. The eyebrow is gently angled. Outer corners of the mouth were made with a small drill; a narrow groove separated the lips. The cheeks are flat and lack modeling except immediately below the eyes. Heavy rounded chin. The whole is nicely smoothed. Fragment of the hair at l. in very low relief; trace at r. is incised. The sex is uncertain.
Comparison with certain heads of late 1st C. A.D. which show a revival of some aspects of late Republican portraiture, shows similarities to ours.
- Condition
White marble, small crystals.
Forehead to beginning of neck preserved. Lower r. ear preserved, most of l. eye, corners of r. eye and mouth. Thin lime incrustation covers much of surface.
- Dimensions
- H. 0.22; W. 0.145; D. 0.11.
- Comments
- Cf. also a Trajanic portrait with same heaviness under chin and heavy upper lid, Felletti-Maj, Ritratti, 95-96, no. 178.
- See Also
- Bibliography
- Published: BASOR182, 39 fig. 31. From late 1st C. A.D., cf. Giuliano, Ritratti Romani, nos. 40-41, pls. 26-27; García y Belidio, Esculturas Romanas, 56-57, no. 44, pl. 39.
- Author
- NHR