• r2-216-10
    Satyr head spout, frontal view. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)

Satyr Head Spout

Date
3rd C. AD, Roman
Sardis or Museum Inv. No.
S66.025
Material
Marble, Stone
Object Type
Sculpture
Sculpture Type
Other Architectural Piece, Mythological Figure
Site
Sardis
Sector
B
Trench
Syn W 66
Locus
B BE-C
B-Grid Coordinates
E23.85 / N17.7 *97.29
Findspot
BE-C
Description

The open smiling mouth is pierced by a round hole for the spout. His teeth are shown as a single horizontal band. The nose was broad. Wide open eyes have arched upper lids and single large drilled holes for the pupils. Furrows between eyebrows and on forehead and crow’s feet are grooved. Above the pointed ears are the round stumps of horns. The hair, parted r. of center, waves up from his forehead in three clumps, each roughly grooved. Three holes (diam. 0.008) are in the top of the head for attachment to a fountain. The square background block is only barely wider than the head. The water channel widens at back of the block.

Eyes, and style in general, look later than the series of head capitals (Cat. 197, Cat. 198, Cat. 199, Cat. 200, Cat. 201, Cat. 202, Cat. 203, Cat. 204, Cat. 205, Cat. 206, Cat. 207, Cat. 208, Cat. 209, Cat. 210 Figs. 349-370) but the tradition is the same.

Condition

Marble.

Top of head to mouth, preserving upper half of spout hole. Surface damage to face.

Dimensions
H. 0.19; W. 0.19; Th. of head 0.06, of background block 0.053; diam. of spout 0.018.
Comments
See Also
Bibliography
Author
NHR