User:ZhengfangZhou/Meroë Head

Visual Analysis
The three locks of hair consisting of two parted at the center and a third on the right approximate those of Prima Porta type.

Production and Provenance
Most bronze statues from the ancient world have been lost because of bronze’s recyclable nature. It’s also prone to be decapitated by enemy if they wish to preserve the head since marble bust could be easily damaged. This bronze head is a rare find as it’s the only bronze portrait of Augustus that retained its original inlaid eye.

The production of this bronze statue required high expertise, as well as the access to the official mold of this portrait type. The Meroe head of Augustus was produced using the lost wax technique. The head was made separately from the body. A x-ray photographs also reveals the outlines of a few repair patches. According to an analysis carried out by British Museum, the Meroe head shows slight impurity in the medal. The alloy used for the Meroe Head contained 72% copper, 22.6% lead, 5.45% tin, 0.7% zinc, 0.035% nickel, 0.022% silver, as well as small traces of iron and antimony.

Excavation
The city ruins of Meroe were discovered in 1772 by James Bruse, rediscovered in 1909 by A.H. Syace, who then suggested John Gastang to investigate the site.

The bronze head of Augustus was found buried under a clean pocket of sand at the entrance to temple M292 at Meroe, modern day sudan.



Although frescoes of temple M292 now are faded completely, the scene can be reconstructed based on Garstang’s German assistant Shliephack’s series of watercolor drawings. On the east wall were two enthroned figure, of which the footstool depicted with a number of bound prisoners of foreign race. This may indicate that this building used to serve as a victory shrine. Earliest evidence of a foot graffiti proves that Meroitic temple served throughout history as a pilgrimage center. The fact that these temples attract visitors indicates everyone who enteres the temple is welcome to step on it, suggesting Meroe’s triumph over the emperor.

Theories: Original Context
Three theories with regard to Meroe head’s original context were presented according to Matic

1. Gift of Rome by Gallus to the King of Meroe as his own political statement.

2. Augustus ordered Lucius Aelius Gallus to prepare a military expedition against Arabia Felix. The expedition was carried out in 26-25 BC and ended with Roman defeat. The second theory being presented is that the bronze head of Augustus from Meroe was the head of one of the statues taken as booty by the rebels and later buried in front of the temple M 292.

BUT—The Primaporta portrait type emerged on coins issued in the East in 27/6 but did not become dominant before 25-23 BC. This chronology suggested by Hausmann contradicts the common opinion according to which the Meroe head was part of the booty taken by the Meroites in Syene in autumn 25 BC.

Hayne dated to 30 n 25 BC

3. Third possible theory is it seems more likely that it belonged originally to a statue erected at Qsar Ibrim some time between 25 and 21 BC. Roman response to the rebel was the campaign of Publius Petronius, the third prefect of Egypt, during 25-24 B.C. After Meroite’s defeat Roman quickly set up fort at lower Nubia. Török also suggested the existence of a sacellum where the statue could receive the homage of troops and locals

Additional context
Gastang also discovered a stele erected in a small sanctuary of Ammon 3 kilometers south of Meroe. The relief on the top of the stele shows a scene very similar to that on the shrine’s wall painting: bound captives at the foot of enthroned figures. Below inscribed with Meroitic cursive which cannot be fully deciphered. It is highly possible that this stele gave an account of conflict with Rome from Meroitic perspective.