Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A beautiful marble sculpture of a goddess draped in a peplos as she stands with one hand to her breast holding a long serpentine object that suggests this may be Hygeia, the goddess of health, cleanliness, and hygiene who is typically depicted grasping a snake. The billowing folds of her peplos cascade down her slender physique as her left arm falls to her side. A high belt highlights her petite waist and raised breasts. Though mostly in the round, part of her verso is covered by an object, as though she is standing in front of a column or drape. This idealistic representation displays the sculptor's inheritance of the Classical Greek tradition, demonstrating a continued Greek influence over Roman sculptors. Clearly, the technical skill of this sculptor was paramount. Indeed, the artist who created this piece clearly possessed the expertise required to turn stone to fabric and flesh! Size: 3.5" W x 7.9" H (8.9 cm x 20.1 cm); 9.2" H (23.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Hygieia was the daughter (sometimes wife) of Asclepius, the god of medicine, and she also represented cleanliness and good health, - the word "hygiene" comes from her name and physicians swore the Hippocratic oath to Hygieia and other healing gods. The worship of Asclepius often included Hygieia, and the cult of Hygieia as an induvial goddess eventually became popular during the plague of Athens in (430 to 427 BCE). Statues of the goddess for home shrines and temples were quite popular during times of plague and illness as she was associated with the prevention of illness. She is often depicted as a young woman with a large snake wrapped around her body drinking from a vessel she carried.

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

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#177287

Fragment of a larger program. Missing head, feet, and parts of proper left side and verso. Expected surface wear commensurate with age, but otherwise nice preservation of detail. Earthen deposits in recessed areas.