Head of Atis. Roman. II - III Century A.D.

Head of Atis. Roman. II - III Century A.D.
Marble.
Provenance: Private collection, France.
Good state of preservation; shows erosion on the surface of the marble.
Measurements: 22 cm high.

This marble sculpture represents the head of Atis, a Phrygian divinity incorporated to the Roman pantheon, associated to the cycles of nature, death and resurrection. His cult, closely linked to the goddess Cybele, was widespread in the Roman world, especially during the High Empire.

The piece shows an idealized treatment of the youthful face, with soft features and serene expression, in accordance with the traditional iconography of Atis. The characteristic hairstyle with wavy and voluminous locks stands out, worked with a certain schematization, which frames the face and brings dynamism to the composition.

This type of representation used to be part of religious or decorative contexts, linked to the mystical cult of the divinity.

Overall, this is a piece of notable archaeological and collector interest, reflecting the assimilation of Eastern cults in Roman culture and the survival of its iconographic forms in classical sculpture.