Jupiter of Smyrna at The Louvre, Paris

myminifactory

This massive marble sculpture was carved by a skilled but unknown artist in the midst of the 2nd century AD. It depicts a male deity known as "Jupiter of Smyrna." Discovered in 1680 in what is now İzmir, Turkey, this stunning work of art was brought to Louis XIV and meticulously restored as Zeus around 1686 by Pierre Granier, who cleverly added an arm holding the thunderbolt. Initially placed in the beautiful Gardens of Versailles, it was seized during the tumultuous French Revolution in 1793. Jupiter reigns supreme as king of the gods and lord of the sky and thunder in mythology. As the chief deity of Roman state religion throughout the Republican and Imperial eras, Jupiter held sway until Christianity became the dominant faith of the Empire. In Roman mythology, he negotiates with Numa Pompilius, Rome's second king, to establish fundamental principles of Roman religion such as sacrifice. This magnificent object is part of "Scan The World," a groundbreaking non-profit initiative launched by MyMiniFactory. Through Scan the World, we are creating a comprehensive digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for everyone to access freely. Scan the World is an open-source community effort, and if you have intriguing items nearby that you'd like to contribute, simply email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate.