A trapezoidal slab featuring the bust of a beardless man wrapped in a Greek himation. The head is triangular in shape with a pointed chin. The face is dominated by almond-shaped eyes framed by thick lids; the pupils are indicated by incised circles. The eyebrows protrude above the orbital cavities, and the forehead is narrow. The scalp is covered by thick curly hair that leaves the ears uncovered between the sideburns and the temples.
A V-shaped chiton is seen under the himation, and the right hand holds the fabric of the cloak.
In the background of the relief, a Greek inscription runs in five short lines along both sides of the head:
ΟΥΑΘΕΡΟΣ ΕΤΩΝ Κ ΑΙΑΑΜΟΣ
"Vatheros, aged 20 years. (erected by) Ailamos"
Provenance: al-Mušannaf. Formerly part of the collection of the Museum of as-Suwaydāʾ. It apparently was lost or looted between 1925 and 1927 to be eventually confiscated by the police in 1963.
Substance: basalt.
Dimensions: Height 44 cm (part of the slab below the bust was lost since it was described and photographed by Dunand in the 1920's), width 34 cm, depth 9 cm.
Text: adapted from Weber (p. 118).
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.
Maurice Dunand. Le Musée de Soueïda, inscriptions et monuments figurés. Paris, Librairie orientaliste Paul Geuthner, 1934.
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