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Lot Essay
For similar heads of Mars wearing unadorned Attic helmets, dating to the Antonine period, see E. Simon and G. Bauchhenss, 'Ares/Mars', LIMC II, Zurich and Munich, 1981, nos 22b and 22c.
As the god of war, Mars was one of the most prominent deities of the Roman pantheon, symbolising the empire and the emperor’s power. Thanks to this association to the imperial cult, he was often depicted on triumphal arches or other public buildings throughout the empire. Both the style and the medium (limestone) of this example point to a more provincial origin, possibly from a public statue produced to represent the emperor’s power throughout the empire.
As the god of war, Mars was one of the most prominent deities of the Roman pantheon, symbolising the empire and the emperor’s power. Thanks to this association to the imperial cult, he was often depicted on triumphal arches or other public buildings throughout the empire. Both the style and the medium (limestone) of this example point to a more provincial origin, possibly from a public statue produced to represent the emperor’s power throughout the empire.