Herm (Sculpture of a Head)

This head carved in white Carrara marble comes from urban archeological works in the city of Huesca and is dated between the 1st century BCE and the 1st century CE. It is probably from a herm (a stone pillar topped with a bust) of Bacchus or Dionysus. These were very common in Roman civilization and often found in domestic environments, where they were used to decorate the gardens and colonnades of houses. The male head with a beard and mustache has youthful features that are very well sculpted using the trepan drilling technique, with classical or Hellenic characteristics. It is flat at the back, indicating it was designed to be viewed from the front and attached to a wall. This suggests it was an ornamental architectural element, or part of one.