Herm bust
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
Unknown
Materials
Marble
Measurements
490 mm (H)210 mm (W)290 mm (D)
Order this imageCollection
Downhill, County Londonderry
NT 180521
Summary
Herm bust of a Strategos (Greek General). The large bust shows a 5th century Greek general turned vigorously to his left. He is bearded and has long straggly hair. He wears a tall Corinthian helmet. The distinctive eyeholes of its pushed-up visor are visible over the crown of the head. The head of this bust wears a 'Corinthian' helmet. This tall helmet with slits for eyes is pushed up so that the face of the sitter is visible. These helmets were worn only by Greeks of the 5th c and 4th centuries BC. There are several portraits of famous Greek generals, including Perikles, who wear this sort of helmet. This head most resembles a type generally called 'Phokion' and dated to ca. 320 BC. There are five Roman examples of this type. Unlike the case of the Doryphoros by Polykleitos, here the Roman period sculptors apparently only had a loose pattern to follow.