Provenanced Roman Marble Fragment with Satyr

$4,233.43

A beautiful Ancient Roman marble relief fragment, carved with the fragmentary depiction of a gesturing paniscus (a rural deity who took the form of a small Pan). The deity is shown reclining and holding a staff, accompanied  by the remains of a young satyr, who is himself depicted carrying a lagobolon (a hunting weapon). The flat surface on the reverse indicates that the relief was attached to a surface behind it, or possibly that it formed part of a sarcophagus’s decoration.

Mounted on a wooden purpose-made stand.

Date: Circa 1st - 3rd Century AD
Provenance: Lucille Kaye (1920-2012), New York and Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, probably acquired in the 1970s or earlier.
Condition: Very fine condition.

SOLD

Pan was the Ancient Greek god of fertility, and the special patron of shepherds and huntsmen, presiding over all rural occupations. In Ancient Greek mythology and culture, Satyr and Silenus were creatures of the wild, part man and part beast, and thus closely associated with the god Dionysus in Classical times. Their Italian counterparts were the Fauns. In ancient art, Satyrs and Sileni were depicted in company with nymphs or Maenads whom they pursued.

To discover more about the cult of Dionysus please visit our relevant blog post: Dionysus: Madness, Release, and Wine.

 

Weight 1800 g
Dimensions W 19.6 x H 13.3 cm
Culture

Stone

Region

Roman Mythology

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