Roman Bronze God Appliqué

$246.42

A fine Roman bronze appliqué depicting the head of a god, possibly Apollo. The facial features are delicately shaped and youthful: the eyes are deeply recessed and finely detailed, with one able to make out even the pupils. The god also boasts a well-defined brow, fulsome lips, slender nose (though the tip is missing) and coiffured hair framing his face.

The back is unworked, though the substantial scratches and indentations suggest original attachment of the object to a surface. The small, central indentation at the top of the head is also possibly indicative of an original hole for attachment or suspension.

Comes supplied with wooden stand.

Date: 1st – 3rd Century AD
Condition: Fine condition, with an attractive green patina.

SOLD

Further to the figure’s general appearance, weight is added to the suggestion that this plaque depicts Apollo by the importance of his birthplace, Delos, as a centre for the manufacture of bronze appliqué ornaments since the Hellenistic period. Apollo, who was known to the Romans as Phoebus, was one of the most important deities in the Graeco-Roman canon. He was the god of oracles, healing, the sun, and poetry among other attributes. His multivalent nature and prevalence in mythology meant that he was a popular deity for both worship and artistic interpretation. He was the son of Zeus and Leto; the twin brother of Artemis (goddess of the hunt), and had key sanctuaries at Delos and Rhodes.

Dimensions W 3 x H 3 cm
Culture

Metal

Region

Roman Mythology