SEVERAN DYNASTY, LATE 2ND CENTURY A.D.

Details

A ROMAN MARBLE HEAD OF A DIOSKOUROS
SEVERAN DYNASTY, LATE 2ND CENTURY A.D.
14 in. (35.6 cm.) high

Provenance

H. Money, Esq.
Antiquities, Sotheby's, London, 15 July 1980, lot 189.
Private collection, New York.
Property from a New York private collection; Antiquities, Sotheby's, New York, 6 December 2012, lot 17.
Swiss private collection, acquired from the above.

Special notice

This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Conditions of sale

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Lot Essay

The Greek Dioskouri, Castor and Polydeuces, were the twin sons of Zeus and Leda (the name is taken from the Greek Dios kouris, or “youth of Zeus”). The pair is best known for their role in several important mythological events. In one, they were sent to rescue their sister Helen after she was kidnapped by Theseus. The twins also hunted with Meleager and other heroes for the Calydonian Boar and joined Jason and the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece. The rendering of the long, curling hair framing the face with anastole over the forehead is reminiscent of the iconography of Alexander the Great. Cf. F. Gury, “Dioskouroi/Castores,” in LIMC, vol. III, no. 132.

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