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| A visitor closely examines the marble head of Silenos, Gallery of Greece, December 2005 |
| Creator: Brian Boyle |
| Date of Image: December 2005 |
| ROM Links: Gallery of Greece |
| Museum ID Number: ROM2005_6179_27 |
| Image Number: ROM2005_6179_27 |
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Description:
A visitor takes a closer look at the marble head of Silenos - a Roman copy of a Hellenistic work of the 3rd to 2nd century BC. The head resembles that of the old satyr Silenos from a well-known statuary group showing him cradling the infant Dionysos in his arms. However, the accented individuality of the features and the passionate expression of the head suggest that the subject portrayed here may be a specific person – perhaps a poet, crowned with an ivy wreath.
The Gallery of Greece features approximately 1,500 artifacts including marble sculptures, beautiful terracotta figurines, vases, coins, and jewellery. These artifacts continue the story of Greek creativity throughout the Archaic (700 - 500 BC), Classical (500 - 323 BC), and early Hellenistic periods (323 - 31 BC). This nearly 700-year time span witnessed the birth of Western art: the Gods appear in human form and the human figure is no longer rendered as a simple shape but in an idealized manner. The feminine ideal is highlighted in a number of statues depicting the goddess Aphrodite. |
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