• r2-77-10
    Lifesize head, frontal view. (©Archaeological Exploration of Sardis/President and Fellows of Harvard College)

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