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Roman

Head of a Satyr Grasped by the Hair, ca. CE 150

Description

Maker

  • Unknown

Culture

Roman

Title

Head of a Satyr Grasped by the Hair

Year

ca. CE 150

Medium

Marble

Materials/Techniques

Materials

  • white marble

Dimensions

27.2 x 17.7 x 17.2 cm (10 11/16 x 6 15/16 x 6 3/4 inches)

Type

  • Sculpture

Credit

Museum Appropriation Fund

Object Number

26.165

Projects & Publications

Publications

Rethinking the Romans

New Views of Ancient Sculpture

Classical Sculpture

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Rethinking the Romans

April 6, 2001 - January 2, 2009

The pointed ears and facial features of this figure indicate that he is a satyr, a semihuman follower of the god of wine, Dionysus/Bacchus. The small hand that grasps his hair allows the identification of the type of sculptural group to which this fragment belonged. The original composition was of a nymph rejecting the advances of a satyr. Such Roman groupings were based on Hellenistic amorous or erotic subjects, most of which involved satyrs being warded off by uninterested parties. Their function in Roman settings is difficult to determine. They may have been votive sculptures set in Dionysiac sanctuaries or privately commissioned works to serve decorative functions.

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Head of a Satyr Grasped by the Hair with the accession number of 26.165. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.

Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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