Bust

29-107-918

Location: On Display in the Eastern Mediterranean Gallery

From: Israel | Beth Shean

Curatorial Section: Near Eastern

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Object Number 29-107-918
Current Location Eastern Mediterranean Gallery - On Display
Provenience Israel | Beth Shean
Archaeology Area CN IV, Tomb 210, surface debris above
Section Near Eastern
Materials Limestone
Iconography Female Head
Description

Female human bust. "female with large, squarish face, low forehead, large, almond-shaped eyes, fairly short nose, full lips, heavy, cleft chin. hair parted in the middle and combed away from the forehead to form a thick roll. behind, thick plaits are gathered in a chignon placed low on the neck. ears partially uncovered. pendant ear-rings. she wears a tunic an ampechonon. Execution: frontal. the head is lifted. sawing (or similar process) used in modelling of the face. eyes placed slightly obliquely. eyelids of equal width, flattened, protruding irises. nasolabial triangle distinctly indicated. lips separated by meeting diagonal chisel-cuts. hair carefully modelled. neck outlined at the base, relief-effect. small breasts modelled. clavi incised, ampechonon regularily draped, with a small "V"-fold at the upper edge. torso low and roughly rectangular."

Romano: "Frontal female bust, armless, crudely executed with flat chisel. Hair is parted above the forehead and drawn back in sections with sharp edges to form a thick roll. Hair covers tops of ears, exposing summarily executed lobes from which hang earrings composed of a vertical rod and circular pendant. Hair is gathered in thick plaits with a chignon set low at the nape of the neck. Some traces of black pigment on hair. Asymmetrical facial features. Squarish face with low, triangular forehead; straight nose. Large oval eyes set beneath sharp brow ridge; lids are outlined by ridges, with traces of black pigment; the right ye turns down at the outer corner, while the left is set horizontally. Irises are raised flat circular surfaces, with black pigment preserved. high cheekbones with flat cheeks. Well-defined lower lip with sharp edges; jutting chin with cleft. Broad neck turning sharply to rounded shoulders with no arms. Two garments are worn: a tunic and a type of shawl (ampechonon) draped over both shoulders and hanging in thickened pendant folds across the front, with a small V-shaped kink in one of the upper folds, just off-center. on the lower bust the folds of the tunic are vertical, and two small rounded protrusions represent breasts. Back of head slopes to thickened, rounded back of bust, crudely finished with flat chisel strokes. Bottom of bust forms an ovoid contour, roughly finished in uneven but stable resting surface."

Height 29 cm
Width 27 cm
Depth 20 cm
Credit Line Expedition to Beth Shean (Beisan); Clarence Fisher, 1921-1928
Other Number 26-9-401 - Field No SF

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