Ptolemaic. <em>Head of a Roman Nobleman, Possibly Marc Antony</em>, ca. 30 B.C.E.– 50 C.E. Graywacke, 9 x 4 1/4 x 5 in. (22.9 x 10.8 x 12.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 54.51. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 54.51_SL1.jpg)

Ptolemaic. Head of a Roman Nobleman, Possibly Marc Antony, ca. 30 B.C.E.– 50 C.E. Graywacke, 9 x 4 1/4 x 5 in. (22.9 x 10.8 x 12.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 54.51. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 54.51_SL1.jpg)

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Head of a Roman Nobleman, Possibly Marc Antony

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

On View: Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor

This head, which was made for insertion into a bust carved in another stone, represents a high-ranking Roman official. Some scholars have suggested that the subject is Cleopatra’s lover Marc Antony, but that identification is uncertain.

However, the fine-grained green Egyptian stone, which was popular with the Romans, and the naturalistic style, which reflects classical Greek statuary, indicate that the man represented here was at least a contemporary of the Egyptian queen and her Roman lover.

CULTURE Ptolemaic

MEDIUM Graywacke

Reportedly From: Alexandria, Egypt

DATES ca. 30 B.C.E.– 50 C.E.

PERIOD Late Ptolemaic to early Roman Period

DIMENSIONS 9 x 4 1/4 x 5 in. (22.9 x 10.8 x 12.7 cm) (show scale)

COLLECTIONS Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

ACCESSION NUMBER 54.51

CREDIT LINE Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund

PROVENANCE Archaeological provenance not documented; 1893, reportedly found in Alexandria, Egypt; between 1893 and 1910, provenance not yet documented; by 1910, acquired by Dr. Joseph Eddé of Alexandria; circa 1910, purchased from Dr. Joseph Eddé by Dr. Jacob Hirsch of Munich, Germany, Paris, France, New York, NY, and Switzerland; 1954, purchased from Dr. Jacob Hirsch by the Brooklyn Museum.

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EXHIBITIONS

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Egyptian Orientation Gallery, 3rd Floor

CAPTION Ptolemaic. Head of a Roman Nobleman, Possibly Marc Antony, ca. 30 B.C.E.– 50 C.E. Graywacke, 9 x 4 1/4 x 5 in. (22.9 x 10.8 x 12.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 54.51. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 54.51_SL1.jpg)

IMAGE overall, 54.51_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph

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RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY

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