Portrait of a woman

myminifactory

Despite typical features of a deity being idealized, the complete statue probably depicted a wealthy female patron of the gymnasium at Salamis, where it was found. Marble sculpture became common on Cyprus only during the Roman period and remained an expensive imported material. It was used particularly for sculptures erected in public buildings and sanctuaries. Women had limited legal rights in Roman society but some 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'. Facial details are very delicately carved: oval face with heavily lidded eyes; small delicate nose (mostly broken away); left ear also damaged. Hair is arranged 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 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 description and analysis; Karageorghis 1964, 1-5 and Karageorghis 1969, 167-93 provide an overview of the Gymnasium in light of modern excavations. Also Mitford and Nicolaou 1974, 1-6 on 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).