Apollo, the son of Jupiter, is a complex deity with many associations including the sun, healing, prophecy, poetry and music. Figurines of Apollo can be difficult to identify, largely because so many lack any real attributes. Some 17 figurines have been identified as Apollo, although there are a number of additional figures that might also be representations of this god. He is usually a youthful, naked figure, often standing with his weight on his right leg and his left leg slightly bent, which gives an S-shape to the torso. His gaze might be slightly lowered and his arms lowered or half raised. As mentioned above, his hair is often long and might fall in tresses across his shoulders (11) or be bound up in a roll, top-knot (18 and 279), or chignon (19). Apollo is associated with the lyre and in several cases (11, 19 and 1133) he holds a plectrum for playing the lyre in his right hand. Only one example in Britain, 1188 from E. Yorkshire, depicts Apollo with his lyre. This unusual figurine also has his hair in a top-knot, stamped, ring and dot nipples and belly button, and small crescentic stamps on his sternum. Other figurines in this stance are found on the Continent, including an unprovenanced piece in the museum in Lyon (Boucher 1973, 10-11, no. 20) and from Augst (Kaufmann-Heinimann 1977, Taf. 7 no. 8). Although usually naked, in one case Apollo wears a baldric (39), and in two a quiver (423 and 1006). Figure 1006 from St Albans is also draped across the left shoulder and forearm and holds a patera in his right hand. Another similar, but undraped, example comes from Augst (Kaufmann-Heinimann 1977, Taf. 8 no. 11).
© Internet Archaeology/Author(s)
University of York legal statements | Terms and Conditions
| File last updated: Tue Mar 20 2012