Statuette of a sleeping child with a lamp

myminifactory

Ancient Roman sculptors created monumental statues of powerful emperors alongside pieces that showcased remarkable realism. A young boy standing alone, poorly dressed and grasping a lamp, powerfully conveys the image of an abandoned orphan. Abandoning a child on the street or by the side of the road was a widespread practice in both ancient Greek and Roman societies. These children were often taken in by families who treated them as playthings for their own kids, or, after deliberate mutilation, used as beggars to solicit alms.