Description
Arethusa’s hair is gathered in an ampyx, a leather or metal band just above her forehead, which is connected to a large open-work hairnet filled with her long hair. This late 5th century BCE version of Arethusa shows richly textured, curly hair, with short loose ends projecting outward along the top of her head along with the inscription ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΟ (Syracuse). The hairnet shows long locks of hair in each section, with surfaces now partly worn, separated by small discs decorating the interstices of the net. While the hairnet is intended to control Arethusa’s hair, it more successfully brings attention to the coils escaping from it. Such an elaborate hair accessory, presumably made of metal, is related to the Hairnet with Medallion (no. 31), and both exemplify the luxurious nature of hair accessories in the Greek Classical and Hellenistic periods.
Details
- Work Date:
- 405-400 BCE
- Location:
- from Syracuse
- Medium:
- Silver
- Credit Line:
- The American Numismatic Society (1964.79.21)