Roman Limestone Female Funerary Bust

c. 2nd century A.D.

Eastern Roman Empire

H: 47.6cm

Beginning in the late sixth century B.C., funerary busts for the deceased middle-class were created for burial ornamentation throughout the Roman Empire.  Evolving through to the 2nd century A.D., they were designed as a half-statue representing the body from the waist up and were placed on or inside the tomb of the deceased.

This female bust reflects the originality of Roman funerary art. Unlike Greek models she is truncated at the waist and wears a thick cloak (himation) drawn over her head neatly framing her shoulders. Her pleated tunic is decorated with an elaborate border suspended by braids over her ‘v’ necked costume (chiton). The jewellery that adorns her body is intricate and suggests her high status in her community. She wears heavy pendant earrings in the form of vine leaves, a multi-lobed pendant necklace with a braided collar, along with a longer crescent shaped pendant necklace that hangs between her breasts.

This funerary bust functioned as an effigy and will now be remembered forever, as this grave marker has become a part of history and builds on our understanding of Roman burial traditions.