Marble head of a figure

Technical analysis: Multiband imaging, optical microscopy, X-ray radiography, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy



This fine-grained (maximum grain size ≈ 1mm) white marble head and part of the neck are all that survive from a figure that would have measured approximately 40.0 cm high. The head is lyre-shaped and tilted back with a broad rounded chin and a long, wedge-shaped, acquiline nose on the otherwise smooth facial plane. The top of the head shows as slightly curved from the front and flat at the back.



There are possible ghost images of two large, almond-shaped eyes with circular pupils, and of a lock of hair on the left side of the face. Faint traces of a polos are visible at the top of the head. A thinly incised groove delineates the head from the cylindrical neck at front and back. Strong dissolution on the top of the head enhances a slight orientation of the calcite grains. There are vestiges of yellow iron oxides in recess at grain boundaries and cleavage planes. Raman analysis of the orange deposit that forms the circular proper right eye identified a mixture of iron oxides (hematite and goethite) and fine silicates.



Both corners of the top of the head and the tip of the nose are chipped. At some point in recent times, a brass mount was attached with plaster into the bottom of the neck. The entire surface is covered with a thin layer of brown accretions. At the back of the head, very fine-grained red particles, identified as hematite, are present over the previously weathered calcite grains. Traces of pink pigment are visible at the back edge of the top of the head in an area of abrasion. There are traces of modern white paint above this area.



Georgios Gavalas, Dorothy Abramitis, Federico Carò and Elizabeth Hendrix