Collection Item – Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

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Marble head of a Warrior; Ministry of Culture Archaeological Receipts Fund; ca. 1988-1989 AD; CC13

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleMarble head of a Warrior

About this objectThe original sculpture was part of the pedimental group of the temple of Aphaea on the island of Aegina, thought to represent Aeginetan soldiers in a battle. It is possible that the warrior represented a combatant in the first or second Trojan War.

The Greek historian Pausanias describes Aphaea as an epithet for the nymph Britomartis, the daughter of Zeus. According to the myth, she flung herself into a fisherman’s net whilst fleeing Minos, and Artemis took her to safety on the Aegean island. Aphaea is thought to mean ‘invisible’. Originally associated with fertility and agriculture, she was later connected with the goddess Athena as well.

The warrior’s approximate date of c. 500-490 BC coincides with the rebuilding of the temple of Aphaea after a fire thought to have occurred in c. 510 BC. Damage sustained by the original bust may correlate to this event.

MakerMinistry of Culture Archaeological Receipts Fund

Maker RoleCasting and Copying Workshop

Date Madeca. 1988-1989 AD

PeriodArchaic

Place MadeGreece; Athens

Place NotesOriginal manufactured in Aegina

Medium and MaterialsPlaster, Wood, and Metal

Style and IconographyArchaic

TechniqueCasting (process)

MeasurementsHeight 290 mm
Weight 3410 gm

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

Credit LinePurchased, 1979.

Object TypeSculpture

Object numberCC13