Asclepius

first half of 2nd century A.D.

Medium

Bronze

Dimensions

16.5 cm

Status

In Museum Collection

Collect24 Art ID

C24-248318

In ancient mythology, Asclepius (Greek: Asklepios) was the son of Apollo and a mortal woman. He inherited the healing skills of his father, who was the traditional Greek healing god. Beginning in the late 500s B.C., the cult of Asklepios spread from a small local following to an important one recognized throughout Greece. It was especially popular in the Hellenistic period and was subsequently adopted by the Romans.Asclepius is depicted here as a mature, bearded man accompanied by his sacred animal, the snake. On his head is a ring-shaped crown made of twisted fabric, and on his feet, tongued sandals. Over his bare torso, he wears an ample himation which is wound around his waist, tucked up under the right arm and then drawn across the back so that it wraps around the left shoulder and arm. The figurine presents a stylistic blend: a Roman work copying a Hellenistic statue that derives from an earlier Classical one. The influence of Hellenistic sculpture is apparent in the way the right arm is freed from the torso, allowing a slight twisting movement in the body. Given its correspondence in size and workmanship, it was probably made as a pair with the figure of Salus (Greek; Hyge…