Statue of Nemesis of Rhamnous

Summary

The statue is made of Pentelic marble with pronounced vertical veins of mica. The head, both arms and two toes from the right foot are missing. The costume is chipped. The statue has been examined with Visible Induced Luminescnece documenting the use of Egyptian Blue on the garment.

Description of object

The head is missing. It was attached with a large iron dowel in the relatively slender neck piece, which was itself positioned in the neck cavity of the costume. On the back the neck piece fits somewhat loosely in the costume. Both arms are missing, the right one was attached with a sturdy vertical iron clamp, plus several pins and a dowel to secure the forearm. The left arm was similarly attached, though lower down towards the elbow. Two toes are missing from the right foot, and the costume is chipped. The woman is clad in a chiton of thin material with a belt around the waist and a short overfold, which is held together on the right shoulder by small buttons, while the shoulder seam on the left side is visible on the inner side of the arm, where, in addition to two buttons, there is small rosette. Over these she wears a large cloak draped around the lower torso. One end is tucked into the belt on the left side and the other is passed over the left shoulder and down over the left side, so that the folds of the cloak seem almost to flow into each other. The costume is also finely executed on the figure’s back. The left arm was originally slightly bent and may have been outstretched with an attribute.

Choice of methods

Visual examination

• Macroscopic

Technical imaging

• VIL

Technical imaging

VIL: The statue has been examined with Visible Induced Luminescnece documenting the use of Egyptian Blue.

Bibliography

F. Poulsen 1951, Catalogue of Ancient Sculpture in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen 1951, cat. no. 304a.

M. Moltesen 2001, Catalogue. Imperial Rome II. Statues. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 34.