Head of a Goddess

This over life-size female head comes from a monumental statue depicting a draped goddess. The head is inclined and turned slightly right, with wavy centrally-parted hair pulled back over the ears. The sculpture was created using the acrolithic technique, in which marble was used for exposed body parts such as the head, forearms and feet, while the drapery and hair were rendered using different materials including wood, limestone, stucco and bronze. The back of this head has been hollowed out and may have been veiled. A cutting at the neck indicates were separately made tresses of hair were also attached. Clues to the statue’s identity include her maturity, the fleshy treatment of the neck, and the tilt of the head, which suggest she may be Ceres, the matronly goddess of agriculture and grain.