Head, Ptolemy III (?)
Ptolemaic Period
Wearing the diadem of a Ptolemaic ruler, this head is thought to represent Ptolemy III.
The head is broken away from a vessel, probably a shallow cup or a bowl. These types of vessels served for libations in Greek culture, their centers adorned by a relief head (termed an emblema) of a figure from the circle of Dionysius. In Egypt, where the rulers associated themselves strongly with Dionysius, the divine emblema was often replaced by the head of Alexander or a Ptolemaic king.
Link to a blog about Ptolemaic Art at The Met
Nile and Newcomers: A Fresh Installation of Egyptian Ptolemaic Art
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