Head of Artemis at The State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

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Artemis - a goddess revered for her hunting prowess, patron deity of wild beasts, and steadfast guardian of chastity - also held the distinction as a fertility and vegetation deity. Interpreted by sculptors in the early part of the 4th century BC, her image began to take on softer features. It was during this time (believed to be associated with the circle of sculptor Praxiteles) that the original prototype emerged, serving as the basis for the Roman replica housed in the Hermitage collection. The goddess is portrayed as a young maiden of extraordinary beauty. Her exquisite countenance is tilted slightly, imbuing Artemis's presence with an intimate, uniquely Praxitelean charm. Her tresses are gathered and arranged in a braid around her head, a rare coiffure that gained widespread popularity among the circle of Praxiteles due to its ability to accentuate the refined beauty of the face. This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access free. Scan the World is an open source community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help. Scanned: Photogrammetry (Processed using Agisoft PhotoScan)