MARBLE SCULPTURE OF GODDESS MAGNA MATER, 27 cm height, inv.no. 338/R

MARBLE SCULPTURE OF GODDESS MAGNA MATER, 27 cm height, inv.no. 338/R

Fragmented sculpture of the goddess, of which torso is preserved in a long chiton, over which a himation is draped, in a sitting position. Although head, forearms and feet of the statue are missing, it can be confirmed with certainty that it is the representation Phrygian deity, considering the characteristic way of tying the chiton and sitting position typical for bigger number of well-known Magna Mater representations. The chiton in rich folds is tied below breasts of the female figure, and on the right shoulder curls of hair can be observed. Type of iconographic representations of the goddess Magna Mater seated on a throne belongs to the deity most common representation throughout the Roman Empire, created after the famous statue of the goddess of Phidias’ pupil Agoracritus from the 5th century BC. Analogously to the known examples of that type representations, it can be assumed that the goddess was wearing a crown in the shape of the city walls (corona muralis) or diadem, that in her hands she could have held some of the common attributes, such as scepter, ear of grain, patera, tympanum, and that on each side of the throne stood sculpture of a lion, the main animal follower of the deity. Fragmented statue of Magna Mater is dated to the beginning of the 4th century.

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