


Head of a woman, 3rd–2nd century b.c.
Greek, South Italian, Tarentine
Terracotta
Greek, South Italian, Tarentine
Terracotta
H. 10 1/2 in. (26.7 cm)
Rogers Fund, 1923 (23.160.95)
Since fine, hard stone such as marble was not readily available in southern Italy, 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.







