Two terracotta busts

Unknown

4th century BCE · Terracotta · Greek and Roman Art

These busts, identified as Persephone or possibly Demeter, depict a goddess wearing a polos (headdress). As is typical of such Sicilian terracottas, they do not represent the figure's arms or breasts, but the face and the hair with its streaming locks and curls are powerfully rendered. Originally, they were adorned with earrings, as indicated by the holes in the ear lobes. They were probably painted and gilded and were presumably set up as votive offerings in sanctuaries.

Artist

Unknown

Date

4th century BCE

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Greek, Sicilian

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Gift of Bronson Pinchot, in honor of June DeLong, 1994