Ex Museum - Greek Hellenistic Marble Head of Zeus

**Originally Listed At $1000**

Ancient Greece, Hellenistic, ca. 3rd century BCE. A finely carved marble head of Zeus (Roman Jupiter), the high god of the Classical pantheon, presenting finely delineated facial features as well as a full mustache and beard, framed by a wavy coiffure. All in all, a majestic, powerful appearance. Size: 2.75" H (7 cm); 4.625" H (11.7 cm) on included custom stand.

In ancient Greece, the relationship between human beings and deities was based on the concept of reciprocal exchange. As such, small votive sculptures in marble and bronze were presented as offerings to the gods to be placed at sanctuaries by devout worshippers, as well as displayed in personal shrines in domestic settings. As well as being tokens of personal piety, the type, material and size of the offering also acted as indicator of the social status of the dedicant. As chief of the gods and ruler of the entire pantheon, Zeus might offer to his celebrants ultimate protection as well as virility and strength. Zeus’ main sanctuary was at Olympia, where pilgrims would come from far and wide to pay honor to their ultimate deity. Smaller sanctuaries to Zeus would also have been erected in every polis throughout the Hellenic world. Zeus was usually depicted as a mature and muscular man, the picture of potent masculinity. He was most often represented with luscious curly locks and a full beard, as we see here.

See a marble votive sculpture depicting Zeus flanked by Demeter and Apollo, from Bursa in Turkey, at the British Museum (inv. 1865,0724.1) - 1st century BCE to 1st century CE.

Cf. W. Burkert, "Greek Religion" (Cambridge, MA, 1985)

Provenance: private Connecticut, USA collection; ex Edgar Park, Toledo, gifted to the Toledo Museum of Art, 1924, accession no. 1924.61

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#146717
Condition Report: A fragment from a larger statue. Expected surface wear with old losses/abrasions to high-pointed areas such as the nose, browline, coiffure, and neckline. Earthen deposits as shown.