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Corinthian head capital with head missing. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)
Corinthian Head Capital from Palaestra Colonnade: Bust
- Date
- Early 3rd C. AD, Roman
- Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
- S67.036
- Material
- Marble, Stone
- Object Type
- Sculpture
- Sculpture Type
- Capital
- Site
- Sardis
- Sector
- PA
- Trench
- PA/S
- B-Grid Coordinates
- E60.50 / N21.40 *97.19 - 96.47
- Findspot
- Pa-S
- Description
One of the round head capitals from the palaestra colonnade, this is the only one of either the palaestra or screen colonnade to have a bust and not just a head. The figure is shown from mid-chest upwards. His r. shoulder is bare; the l. one has the end of a chlamys pinned by a large round brooch. The well-formed r. arm disappears into the acanthus just below the shoulder. The head is missing entirely, but it is clear from the break that the hairstyle was short and basically rounded.
The molding consisted of egg and dart (H. 0.065) over vertical fluting (H. 0.035). At the center of the side of the capital is a downward-facing flower, and the same is at the back; there was no bust at the back.
- Condition
Marble.
The head is broken off, perhaps intentionally. Many of the acanthus leaves and part of molding is also missing. L. side crudely chiseled off. Lewis hole in top center (W. 0.05; L. 0.105; D. 0.11; distance center to front 0.45, to r. side 0.4450.
- Dimensions
- H. 0.77; W. 0.72; Th 1.00. Break of head: H. 0.14; W. at top 0.155. Entire bust: H. 0.25; W. 0.33.
- Comments
- Cf. also Cat. 208 (Figs. 365-366). The similarity of shape to a bust capital showing Caracalla is striking, see Mercklin, Antike Figuralkapitelle, no. 211, figs. 399-400. Cf. also architectural tondo of Apollo with chlamys, Vermeule, Imperial Art, 88ff., Fig. 32.
- See Also
- Bibliography
- Published: BASOR191, 28, fig. 21; Hirschland, Head Capitals, 22, pl. 36b.
- Author
- NHR