Roman Period Bronze Sculpture of Isis-Aphrodite

This large, accomplished figure was hollow cast via the lost--wax method. Her eyes were originally inlaid. She is depicted in the contraposto pose, in which the weight of the body is supported by the right leg while the left leg recedes and is moved slightly to the left. Her right arm is bent at the elbow and is held in front of the right side of the hip. The tips of the thumb and index finger meet to form a circle while the remaining fingers of that hand are spread. The circular form suggests that she was holding an attribute now lost in that hand. Her accessories include sandals laced high up on the ankle, an armlet and a broad collar from which is suspended a cordiform pendant. The pendant may be a heart amulet. An elaborate foliate headdress rising from a tiara--like base completes her accessories. The predominant form of the floral elements of the headdress are palmettes while the tiara--like base is fronted by an uraeus, the sacred, protecting cobra of ancient Egypt, over which, in the centre of the foliate elements, is a miniature composite element consisting of double ostrich feather plumes and a sun disc.