Thursday, May 29, 2025

Funeral relief of Maximos (Masḥarā)

 


A trapezoidal slab, the upper part of which is triangular in shape. The relief is a frontal view of a bearded man wearing a high conical headcover. He has a round face and a short neck. The almond-shaped eyes are framed by sharp lids. The ears are intact, but the nose is damaged. The tunic has a horizontal neckline, and a cloak covers the shoulders and upper extremities, hands excepted. The left hand supports a small vessel held between the thumb and index finger as the right hand reaches towards its content. A Greek inscription of four lines is visible in the space under the bust as follows:

ΜΑΞΙΜΟΣ ΑΡΟΥΑΟΥ ΕΤΩΝ ΟΗ

"Maximos, son of Arouanos, aged 59"

The piece overall is in excellent condition. 

Provenance: Provenance; Masḥarā
Era: second half of the 2nd century CE.
Substance: basalt. 
Dimensions: H 101 cm, W 46 cm, D 12 cm. 
Text: adapted from Weber (p. 63-64). 
Photo: ar-Rīḥāwī
Collection: the National Museum of Damascus. Acquired by the Museum in 1960, it currently is in its garden. 



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.
ʿAbdel Qādir ar-Rīḥāwī. Archaeological Discoveries 1859-1960 (Arabic).  Les Annales Archéologiques Arabes Syriennes XI-XII (p. 102 fig 7).

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