Roman

As the Empire expanded, especially during and after the 2nd century CE, foreign practices and luxury goods were assimilated into Roman culture. In addition to its aesthetic qualities, the adopted neckpiece (torque) around this figure’s neck served a function: it covered the seam where a portrait head (now lost) joined the torso. This traditionally Celtic ornament was worn by Roman soldiers and by youths who participated in the Trojan Games. Originally indicators of divinity, torques suggested the gods’ protection. In fact they are common to representations of such child-deities as Horus-Harpokrates, Attis, and young Dionysos, who were connected with Eastern mystery religions that shared the promise of a happy afterlife with their initiates. Combined with a lost portrait head, the torque may establish this piece as a funerary portrait statue, an appropriate memorial to a deceased youthful son.