Figurines Data

ID	720
Images
Grid Ref	ST4793
Project type	Unknown
County	Monmouthshire
County Previously	Gwent
Site	Shirenewton
Site Type	Unknown
Location Type	Unknown
Context	Unknown
Context Quality	1
Object Period	0
Material	Bronze
Secondary Material	Silver inlaid eyes
Location	Newport Museum and Art Gallery
Ref No	NPTMG 1989.288
M/F	Male
Age	Mature
Form	Figurine
Type	Deity
Name	Mars
Bearded	Yes
Headgear	Corinthian helmet
Clothed	No
Drapery	No
Condition	Slightly worn. Head only.
Classical	1
Quality	Classical 2
Photo	Yes
Illustration	No
Height	44.00
Length	0.00
Prototype	Sphinx on helmet - Pheidius statue of Athena Parthenos
Parallels	Earith; Menzel 1966, 7, no 12
References	Webster 1990, 295-7, pl XXVII [Link to Bibliography]
Description	The head is fully modelled, as if to be viewed from all sides, and has a fully formed neck, suggesting that it was originally part of a statuette rather than a furniture fitting. . . Luxuriant, curly hair which emerges from beneath the helmet to frame the face on each side and to cover the back of the neck; the forehead is clear. There is a similarly luxuriant beard and perhaps moustache. The detailed modelling of the face is now somewhat abraded, but the eyes remain striking features, inlaid with silver. The loss of the settings for the pupils lends an extra ferocity to the deity's expression. The Corinthian helmet has a face mask on the peak. . . [and] is surmounted by the crouching figure of a wingless sphinx of long-tailed feline form with the very abraded head and bust of a woman. (Webster p295).