Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A group of four bronze attachments, one decorated with the head of Alexander the Great, one with Bacchus, and two with Bacchanalian satyrs - all in high relief. The two smaller ones are nearly identical, presenting young woodland satyrs with goat ears, pointy horns, handsome young faces, and grape clusters in their wavy coiffures. The larger one on the lower right depicts a youthful Bacchus - the god of wine, wine making, grapes, theatre, and debauchery - with a handsome face and a grapevine wreath adorning his wavy locks. To his left is Alexander the Great donning a Herculean hat representing the Nemean lion or possibly a beardless Herakles - looking slightly askance toward the right. A fabulous ensemble of figural attachments displaying the utmost artistry and technique as well as wonderful iconography. All are perforated at the top for attachment. Bacchus attachment is perforated at both top and bottom. Size: Alexander attachment measures 2.375" W (6 cm); the ensemble measures 5.75" H (14.6 cm) on included custom stand.

By the time of Alexander, Herakles was certainly revered as the greatest hero of all time. He was generally depicted as youthful and beardless, wearing the Nemean lion skin on his back with wild feline's paws tied in a knot over his chest, carrying an intimidating club. Alexander had a direct connection to Herakles through his royal lineage. The Macedonian Argead dynasty - including Philip II, Alexander, and their predecessors dating back to 700 BCE - traced their lineage to Karanos, who was the great-great-great grandson of Herakles. This association was significant as the Argead royal family could confirm their Greek roots as well as their divine pedigree.

However, Alexander also took pride in a personal link to the Greek hero. He was consistently paired with the symbol of a lion, a symbol also associated with Herakles. Furthermore, Plutarch told a story about Alexander's birth that describes a dream that Philip II had before his son was born in which Olympias' womb was sealed with the distinct image of a lion. Whether this story was known before, during, or after Alexander's life is unknown. This said, ancient biographies associate Alexander with Herakles. For example Diodorus wrote that when Alexander first met the Thessalonians, they were reminded of their common ancestor Herakles. (Diodorus, 17.4.1) What's more, in the coinage and art of his time, Alexander was linked with Herakles, "As for his heroic ancestor Heracles, Alexander was shown wearing a helmet made from a lion's head on an otherwise lifelike series of sculptures carved soon after his death...the helmet was a symbol of Heracles, and no doubt Alexander wore it in real life. On coins, Heracles' standard Macedonian portrait had taken on Alexander's features: there were precedents for this, not least in the gold coin-portraits of Apollo issued by Philip but unmistakably influenced by Alexander's features; coins also showed Alexander in his lifetime wearing Ammon's rams'-horns, and this was a theme all his own" (Robin Lane Fox, Alexander the Great, 443).

It is also thought that Alexander made sacrifices to Herakles during his military campaigns, including after his victory at the Battle of Issus, when he crossed the Danube River and Hellespont, and when he reached the Indian Ocean. (Curtius) In addition, scholars believe that before battle, Alexander would tell his troops that they "would one day traverse the bounds of set by Hercules (Heracles) and Father Liber (Dionysus) to subdue not only the Persians but all the races of the earth" (Curtius, History of Alexander, 3.10.5). According to Arrian's "Campaigns of Alexander", prior to his arrival at Tyre, Alexander dreamt that Herakles welcomed him to the city. He also "offered sacrifice to Heracles and held a ceremonial parade of his troops in full battle equipment; the fleet also took part in the review in the god's honour, and there were athletic contests in the Temple enclosure and a torch-race" (Arrian, 143).

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#137164

Loss above perforation on the Alexander attachment. Losses to peripheries of the roundels as shown. Reliefs are very strong with vivid details. All have attained a green and russet patina.