Nike is shown in her customary gliding movement. Her missing right arm must have originally held a wreath. The lowered left hand touches the hem of the peplos' overfold and supports the lower end of the cornucopia, the upper end of which rests on the left shoulder. Fruits and leaves are seen protruding from the rim of the horn. The garment is fixed with a brooch on the left shoulder, leaving the right breast bare. The apoptygma is girded under the breasts. The longitudinal folds are rather stiff and motionless. The goddess wears a thick necklace with a pendant.
The bulky head rests on a thick neck. The eyes are disproportionately large and framed by thick lids. The hairstyle consists of a simple row of rounded buns falling all the way to the shoulders.
The right upper extremity and both wings are lost. The insertion holes of wings are visible on the upper back. The right half of the skull is broken off down to the right upper lid. The back of the statue is neglected as far as sculptural workmanship is concerned. The surface is entirely covered by a thin, dark bluish opalescent patina.
Provenance: H̱irbit Ramaḍān. Acquired by the Museum in 1933.
Era: second or first half of the third century CE.
Substance: basalt.
Dimensions: H 124 cm, W ca 40 cm, D 32 cm.
Text: adapted from Weber (p 115).
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.
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