Head of Dionysos or Hermes

Summary

The head is made of white marble with veins of mica. It is badly worn, missing the nose, shoulder locks, the right ear-lock and the point of the beard. Besides the fringe, the forehead, the irises and the lips are badly chipped. Traces of red paint can be seen with the naked eye at the corner of the eyes and on the lips.

In 1955 the head was cleaned and washed.

Description of object

The head represents an older deity with stylized hair, beard and face. The front hair is combed up over a fillet and terminates in thick curls in front of the ears. Behind the ears are the remains of shoulder locks. The long hair at the back of the neck is likewise folded together and “hung up” around the fillet. The beard is parted in the centre, so that the curls assume a symmetrical form. It protrudes in an oblique line from the chin. The nose, shoulder locks, the right ear-lock and the point of the beard are missing. The fringe, the forehead, the irises and the lips are badly chipped.

Choice of methods

Visual examination

• Macroscopic

Bibliography

F. Poulsen (1951), Catalogue of Ancient Sculpture in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 150.

M. Moltesen (2005) Mette, Catalogue. Imperial Rome III. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 202.