Despite the idealised features typical of a deity, the complete statue probably depicted a wealthy female patron of the gymnasium at Salamis, where it was found, Marble sculpture only became common on Cyprus in the Roman period, and remained an expensive imported material. It was used especially for sculpture erected in public buildings and sanctuaries. Women had limited legal rights in Roman society, but some at least acquired influence and visibility through public patronage.

Description

Marble head from a statue of a woman, probably a portrait of a patron. The head is broken away diagonally from the body, preserving on the right side an incision indicating a fold of flesh, perhaps a kind of 'Venus ring'. The facial details are very delicately carved: oval face with heavily lidded eyes; small delicate nose (mostly broken away); left ear also damaged. Her hair is arranges in plaits, gathered into a bun at the back; at the front the fringe is carved as a series of long S-curves, swept over the ears. Made of fine crystalline marble; many of the details of the hair are worn but the surface of the face is well preserved.

Curator's comments

See Karageorghis and Vermeule 1966, 30 no. 101 for a description and analysis; Karageorghis 1964, 1-5 and Karageorghis 1969, 167-93 provide an overview of the Gymnasium in the light of the modern excavations. Also Mitford and Nicolaou 1974, 1-6 on the inscriptions from the building.

Bibliography:
Karageorghis V. (with Vermeule C.) 1964, Sculptures from Salamis I (Nicosia).

Karageorghis V. 1969, Salamis in Cyprus. Homeric, Hellenistic and Roman (London).

Karageorghis V. and Vermeule C. 1966, Sculptures from Salamis II. Salamis Vol. 2 (Nicosia).

Mitford T. and Nicolaou I. 1974, The Greek and Latin inscriptions from Salamis. Salamis Vol. 6 (Nicosia).