Museum card: Dionysus Sardanapalo - male herm
Type: Works; male herm; Physical object
Category: Archaeological finds
Restored by Carlo Albacini
Head slightly larger than natural, with herm integrated in the modern era.
Date of creation: 100 A.D. - 149 AD, sec. II A.D., first half; 100 - 149
Subject: Dioniso Sardanapalo
The head shows the idealized features of a virile figure, with smooth and terse features, framed by an elaborate curly and bulging hairstyle around the forehead, and by a thick beard, scattered on the chest. The triangular forehead has a slight swelling at the nasal septum. Under the superciliary arches, with a metallic cut, a clear contour line separates the upper eyelid from the eye socket. The elongated eyes, with a tear-like rendition of the caruncle, are drawn by rather thick, ring-shaped eyelids, of which the upper one surpasses the lower one in the external corner. The orbit is flat, but it cannot be excluded that it has been retouched. The mouth has just hatched, with the upper lip hidden by the mustache, and the lower lip fleshy and sagging. The beard develops fluently from the cheekbones, articulated in short, slightly wavy locks, separated by deep channels and slight internal partitions.
Material and technique: pentelic marble / chiselling / smoothing
Extension: height: cm. 65
Address: National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Piazza Museo, 19 - 80135, Naples (NA), Campania - Italy - Ground floor - Room XXV, Sculptures from the Farnesina (Venus, busts, heads and statuettes), inv. 6306 (1870 posts)
It is reported by: iccd file RA: 15-00427607
In: Farnese Sculture Collection
Identifier: work_99100
Rights: Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities
Rights holder: property of the Italian State