Bronze Shield Portrait Of A Goddess

Description

This shield portrait, clipeata imago, consists of two parts: the hollow portrait which still has remains of lead filling and the shield which forms the frame. The back has six pegs for hanging on a wall, or perhaps it was set in the center of a gable, like a series of images of gods and similar portraits. 1 Since this portrait is not life-size, it may have been a votive object. This and an example of a male portrait from the time of Trajan (the beginning of the second century A.D.) in Ankara are the only bronze examples of this size.2 Our figure, dressed in a chiton with buttoned sleeves, probably represents an unidentified goddess. The hair style and the diadem give no definite clues, but she might be Aphrodite. The rendering of the eyes date her to the second half of the second century A.D

(Literature: Zoudhi Catalogue (1976) 90 No. 1, Fig. 30)

  • Excavated from: Banyas (Hauran) 

  • Date: Date: A.D. 150–200 

  • Material: Material: Bronze 

  • Item Dimensions: Diameter: 38.8 cm; height of bust: 34 cm

  • Archaeological Mission:

  • National Museum Of Damascus (2011) – Museum No.: Damascus 16967

  • Index code Dam 014-3

Excavation Site Location

References

  • Hommel, Peter. Studien zu den römischen Figurengiebeln der Kaiserzeit. Berlin: Verlag Gebr. Mann, 1954, 110.
  • Winkes, Rolf. Clipeata Imago: Studien zu einer römischen Bildnisform. Habelts Dissertationsdrucke, Reihe Klassische Archäologie 1. Bonn: Rudolf Habelt, 1969, 73, 132.

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Credits

Ebla To Damascus  An exhibition from the  Directorate General of Antiquities and museums: Syrian Arab Republic. Edited by Harvey Weiss –  Smithsonian institution Travelling Exhibition Service Washington, D.C, 1985 – Book Published with the assistance of the J.Paul Getty Trust.

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