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Terracotta head of a woman

3rd–2nd century BCE
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 161
Since fine, hard stone such as marble was not readily available, Tarentine artists used terracotta for large-scale figures of high quality. The work to which this extraordinary head originally belonged may have been associated with a goddess, perhaps Aphrodite. Among the thousands of clay vases and figures found at Tarentum, subjects pertaining to the life of women, and specifically marriage, are prevalent.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Terracotta head of a woman
  • Period: Hellenistic
  • Date: 3rd–2nd century BCE
  • Culture: Greek, South Italian, Tarentine
  • Medium: Terracotta
  • Dimensions: H. 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm)
  • Classification: Terracottas
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1923
  • Object Number: 23.160.95
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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Terracotta head of a woman, Terracotta, Greek, Tarentine
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