Marble statue of a seated woman
Roman version of a Greek statue type of the 3rd–2nd century B.C.
Statues of women proliferated during the Hellenistic period. Some represented nymphs, young female divinities who were thought to be associated with some aspect of nature, such as a river or a great tree. Others portrayed the nine Muses, who followed Apollo and brought inspiration to artists, poets, and musicians, and were displayed in groups, each holding an identifying attribute.