Roman late 1st cent. B.C.-1st cent. A.D. Marble.

H. 5 29/32 in; 15 cm W. 4 3/8 in; 11.1 cm D. 2 1/4 in; 5.7 cm

This head of a herm represents a bearded deity, probably Dionysos (Zeus or Hermes are other possible identifications), with an extravagant, "archaizing" coiffure composed of wavy tresses and cord-like twisted strands of hair, some of which descend vertically in parallel bundles. Roman interpretation of Greek late Archaic and early Classical models. In early imperial decorative art such small-format herms, often with two faces, served as finial figures for marble columns with floral ornamentation that were part of the standard inventory of private Roman villas.

The reverse highly polished. A small part of the forehead hair has broken off. Marble with brownish discoloration in a few places.

Formerly priv. coll. Vienna, since the 1960s. Thereafter Austrian art market.