Head of the god Serapis. Roman, I-II century A.D.

Head of the god Serapis. Roman, I-II century A.D.
Alabaster.
Good condition, no restorations.
Provenance: -Private collection, France, Acquired by family inheritance -Private collection J.G. Madrid, 2022.
Measurements: 9.5 cm. height.

Refined alabaster head representing Serapis, syncretic divinity created in Hellenistic times and widely spread during the Roman Empire, which merges attributes of Zeus, Hades and Osiris. As a god associated with fertility, regeneration and the afterlife, his cult reached a remarkable popularity in the Mediterranean area, especially in urban and cosmopolitan contexts.

The piece stands out for the quality of its carving, visible in the treatment of the face and, above all, in the careful execution of the hair and beard, worked with a rich texture of deep curls. The majestic expression responds to the classical canons of divine representation. On the head we can appreciate the beginning of the modius, characteristic attribute of Serapis, symbol of abundance and link with the chthonic world.

The use of alabaster, a material appreciated for its softness and light translucency, gives the work a special delicacy. This type of sculptures, of reduced format, were destined both for private devotion and for small spaces of domestic worship.