Harvard Art Museums > 1992.256.206: Statuette of Priapus Sculpture Collections Search Exit Deep Zoom Mode Zoom Out Zoom In Reset Zoom Full Screen Add to Collection Order Image Copy Link Copy Citation Citation"Statuette of Priapus , 1992.256.206,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, May 05, 2024, https://hvrd.art/o/288815. Reuse via IIIF Toggle Deep Zoom Mode Download This object does not yet have a description. Identification and Creation Object Number 1992.256.206 Title Statuette of Priapus Classification Sculpture Work Type statuette, sculpture Date 2nd-3rd century CE Places Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World Period Roman Imperial period, Middle Culture Roman Persistent Link https://hvrd.art/o/288815 Physical Descriptions Medium Marble Technique Carved Dimensions 9.1 x 4.5 x 2.7 cm (3 9/16 x 1 3/4 x 1 1/16 in.) Provenance Recorded Ownership History Louise M. and George E. Bates, Camden, ME (by 1971-1992), gift; to the Harvard University Art Museums, 1992. Acquisition and Rights Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Louise M. and George E. Bates Accession Year 1992 Object Number 1992.256.206 Division Asian and Mediterranean Art Contact am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu Permissions The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request. Descriptions Description This small, marble statuette represents the bearded god Priapus. The god wears a long cloak over his shoulders that is cinched with a high belt. He holds up his tunic to carry a bunch of fruit, which in turn reveals his erect phallus. His short legs are broken at the knees, but likely bore high-laced boots. The god slightly advances his right leg, though the feet are now lost. His hair is gathered in a bun at the back of the neck and the he wears a headband. The area around the legs is deeply drilled and there is a drill hole under the lower right arm. Commentary Priapus was the god of fertility, gardens, plants, and vineyards. The god is typically depicted with an oversize phallus and basket of fruit. Statues and other representations of Priapus often decorated domestic garden spaces, serving as a protector, particularly for crops. Garden statues were frequently larger in size than this statuette and would have stood independely in the interior courtyard area (1). Notes: 1. See an example in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston inv. RES.08.34a Subjects and Contexts Roman Domestic Art Verification Level This record was created from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator; it may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
