Roman head of Serapis, c.2nd century AD
Marble
Height: 10.4cm
10888 IVP
Further images
The god’s shoulder-length wavy hair tumbles down his head and merges with his moustache and ringleted beard, five curling strands falling over his forehead and strong brow, which frames deep-set...
The god’s shoulder-length wavy hair tumbles down his head and merges with his moustache and ringleted beard, five curling strands falling over his forehead and strong brow, which frames deep-set eyes with incised pupils. The face is expertly modelled, with straight nose and plump lips. There is a divot on the top of his head, but slight remains of a modiolus are distinguishable. The surface has some staining and rootilation.
The five locks of hair falling onto the forehead are characteristic indicators of the god Serapis. Serapis was invented by the Ptolemies to draw a link between the Egyptian and Greek gods. His Egyptian influences being those of Osiris and the Apis, represented in the etymology of his name, and his Greek influences being found in the imagery of Zeus.
The five locks of hair falling onto the forehead are characteristic indicators of the god Serapis. Serapis was invented by the Ptolemies to draw a link between the Egyptian and Greek gods. His Egyptian influences being those of Osiris and the Apis, represented in the etymology of his name, and his Greek influences being found in the imagery of Zeus.
Provenance
Private collection, USA; acquired from the art market in North America 1960sLiterature
Compare Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae, Vol.VII, book 2, p.508, no.83a and 83e
