Große Artemis von Ephesos
2. Jh. n. Chr.
This larger than life-sized statue depicts the Roman version of the cult image of the Ephesian Artemis, venerated for centuries at the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. The goddess wears a close-fitting apron-like robe (ependytes) held up by a belt. Rectangular fields feature animals and legendary creatures: sphinxes, griffins, hinds, lionesses and bulls. The bee, Ephesus’s »heraldic« animal, is also depicted repeatedly. The ovoid attributes below her belt are identified either as breasts, eggs or the scrotal sacs of bulls; on her head the deity wears a polos crown. The statue’s appearance reflects the wooden Archaic cult image (xoanon), which was given new robes and hung with jewellery in an important religious feast celebrated annually.
This larger than life-sized statue depicts the Roman version of the cult image of the Ephesian Artemis, venerated for centuries at the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. The goddess wears a close-fitting apron-like robe (ependytes) held up by a belt. Rectangular fields feature animals and legendary creatures: sphinxes, griffins, hinds, lionesses and bulls. The bee, Ephesus’s »heraldic« animal, is also depicted repeatedly. The ovoid attributes below her belt are identified either as breasts, eggs or the scrotal sacs of bulls; on her head the deity wears a polos crown. The statue’s appearance reflects the wooden Archaic cult image (xoanon), which was given new robes and hung with jewellery in an important religious feast celebrated annually.
Time:
2. Jh. n. Chr.
Object Name
Abguss
Culture
Römisch
Material/technology:
Abguß, Gips
Dimensions:
mit Sockel: 368 cm x 55 cm x 41 cm
Objekt: 297 cm
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Antikensammlung
Invs.
Antikensammlung, XIV Z 276