Collection Item – Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

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From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleFigurine

About this objectSarapis (also spelled Serapis) is a god with a relatively unknown beginning. The name seems comes from the combination of Osiris, and Apis (the Bull), and his cult was associated with life after death, fertility and regeneration as one of the gods of the earth. Sarapis combines both Egyptian and Greek aspects, although he is always shown as a Greek god with a full beard and Greek style robe. The curly beard in this piece is characteristic of representations of Sarapis, but he is also often shown with a kalathos or modius (a basket or measure for grain) on his head, linking him to Osiris .

This fragment is a moulded head of the god, made of pale brown clay, with a pinkish-red slip over the face and front of the hair. He is wearing an ivy wreath with fruit or a flower at the centre, which was added separately after the head was removed from the mould and joined together. The head is turned slightly to the right. At present there is no indication of what larger object this piece may have been part of.

Date Made1st-2nd Century AD

PeriodRomano-Egyptian

Medium and MaterialsCeramic: Pottery

Style and IconographyRomano-Egyptian

TechniqueMolding (forming)

MeasurementsHeight 92mm

Subject and Association KeywordsArt and mythology

Subject and Association KeywordsGods in art

Subject and Association KeywordsFigurative art

Named CollectionThe James Logie Memorial Collection, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Credit LineDonated by Katherine Adshead, 1973

Object TypeFigurine

Object number152.73