Greek Marble Head of a Bearded God

Culture: Greek

Period: Hellenistic, 2nd century B.C.

Material: Marble

Dimensions: 21 cm high (without base)

Price: Sold

Ref: 2196

Provenance: Private collection Niels Christian Borberg, Denmark, acquired around 1970.

Condition: Head of fine crystalline Greek marble which possibly belonged to a group of figures. Except for some age-related wear, with beautiful old patina and unique expression preserved until today.

Description: The god with a thick beard, hanging down in broad dags along the cheeks. The mouth with thick, heart-shaped lips is slightly open. The forehead is bulging, the nose straight. The head is bent forward and slightly to the right, the alert eyes looking nobly straight ahead. Full, extremely thick curls framing the face. On the head the god is wearing a filet (type 12 I according to Antje Krug, 1967), which appeared in the Greek plastic only from the second half of the 5th century. The filet, adjusting to the head form, is not strapped, pinning the full, curly hair to the head. On the back of the head also thick curls falling into the neck. In the calotte the plastic has a larger and smaller hole for an attachment (probably a crown). Depiction of either Poseidon or Asclepius. Mounted.