Glass head of Zeus Sarapis

Unknown

1st–2nd century CE · Glass · Greek and Roman Art

Opaque deep red. Solid block. Carved in the round: bearded head with hair arranged in long flowing locks, ending in curls around neck, well-defined eyes with eyelids and pupils, and bushy beard covering lower half of face. Broken, with unweathered chip on nose, a large weathered break across lower proper left side of face, a large weathered circular patch on top of head (probably where a polos or crown has been broken off), and a jagged scar over proper right eye; green copper weathering surface. The red glass has acquired a green patina.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st–2nd century CE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917