Monumental Marble Head of Zeus Serapis

Culture: Roman

Period: 2nd century A.D.

Material: Marble

Dimensions: 35 cm high

Price: Sold

Ref: 3400

Provenance: French private collection in the 1950s. Later with Galerie Steinitz 2012. Bonhams auction on 7 July 2016, lot 177. Last in an English private collection.

Condition: The nose chipped off in ancient times. The modern base with a break on the reverse.

Description: Monumental, larger-than-life marble head of the syncretistic god Zeus Serapis, who was established as the integrative Egyptian-Hellenistic empire god since Ptolemaios I. The face with a thick, long beard set in curls placed over each other. Above an arched moustache framing the thick lips and the slightly open mouth. Four thick ringlets hanging into his forehead, on the sides the long, wavy hair, held by a diadem, cascading to the shoulder. On the back six finely worked out corkscrew curls winding out from the diadem. The eyes with a vigilant gaze, the pupils notched. Various perforations indicate that the head was decorated with precious metal jewellery in ancient times. Mounted.