This piece was discovered by G. Schumacher in the yard of a farmer's house in the late 19th century. According to his report, the statue was still standing on its original base. He also mentioned an altar topped by a libation bowl that was placed on the pedestal, but by the time of his visit, it had already been removed to be exhibited in a modern building.
The remaining altar consists of a simple profiled base, a long shaft with smooth upper and lower fillets, and an upper part, chiseled to receive the sacrificial bowel. Only the frontal face displays the relief of an armored human figure. He is depicted standing frontally and holding a long spear or scepter in his right hand. A snake winds around this spear and points its head at the man's right breast. The left upper extremity is bent at the level of the elbow and the left hand holds what appears to be an ear of a plant. The thorax is covered with a breastplate and a kilt wraps the waist and pelvis descending to the knees. The subject is robust, and his muscular left biceps is adorned with a bangle. He apparently wears a cloak that forms several semicircular folds under his chin to cover his upper chest. The oval face is framed by thick hair parted above the forehead to fall symmetrically in three curly plaits on each side of the neck onto the shoulders.
The almond-shaped eyes are wide open with circular pupils and well-demarcated eyelids. The nose is prominent, and the lips are fleshy.
The sculpture likely represents Shadrafa.
Provenance: Kafar al-Mā.
Era: Roman (circa 1st century CE).
Substance: basalt.
Ht: 126 cm.
Text: adapted from Weber (p. 72).
Collection: the National Museum of Damascus (as-Suwaidāʾ' Hall (Abdul-Hak) or the Garden of the Museum (Weber).
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.
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