Fountain-Mask (Buṣrā)

 

A slab with a rounded upper and rectangular lower border. It is entirely filled by a bearded mask in relief. The background is filled by long wavy hair symmetrically parted above the forehead and held with a headband. The flat orbital cavities are surmounted by rounded eyebrows, the interior ends of which merge with the long nasal ridge. The almond-shaped eyes are indicated by small incisions; the pupils consist of circular depressions likely filled with incrustations in antiquity. The facial hair consists of a mustache and a beard, the latter covering the chin all the way to the inferior aspect of the malar bones. The oval mouth is wide open in order to accommodate the tube-shaped water spout. Two holes are seen at the level of the temples, the purpose of which is to receive the iron dowels that fixed the mask to the wall of a pool. 

A piece of the left dowel hole is broken off while the right hole is still filled by a corroded iron nail with a thick head. The front of the mask is covered by a thin yellowish patina with scattered dark stains. 

Provenance: Buṣrā, acquired by the Museum in 1952. 

Era: late second or third century CE.

Substance: white marble. 

Dimensions: H 28.4 cm, W 20.2 cm, D 5.5 cm. 

Text: adapted from Weber (p. 88). 

Collection: National Museum of Damascus. 

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.