A Syrian Goddess

"Princess, see me at your feet. Are you mortal, or a goddess?"

Thus did Odysseus address Nausicaa, daughter of King Alcinous (Homer, The Odyssey, Book VI), but the lovely lady represented in this bust is an authentic immortal goddess, and her Olympian abode is none other than the National Museum of Damascus.

Acquired from Bānīās (the occupied Golan) in 1965, this bronze imago clipeata is about 39 cm in diameter and dates from the second half of the second century C.E.

Bānīās is an ancient city located on the slopes of Mount Hermon in the vicinity of the springs of the River Jordan. Its original name derives from the Greek shepherd god, Pan (whence Paneas or Bānīās). It also is called Dan in the Old Testament (Judges 18:29 KJV) as well as Caesarea Philippi in the New Testament (Matthew 16:13 and Mark 8:27 KJV). It was rebaptized as Neronias under Nero, but that name was short-lived.

The site was captured by Israel in 1967 and has been under occupation ever since.

Thomas M. Weber. Sculptures from Roman Syria in the Syrian National Museum of Damascus. Vol I, from Cities and Villages in Central and Southern Syria. Wernersche Verlagsgesellschaft. Worms. 2006.