Glass head of Zeus Sarapis
Unknown Artist
1st–2nd century CE
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H. 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm)
Classification
Glass
Culture & Period
Roman · Early or Mid Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number
17.194.1475
Tags
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the Greek and Roman Art galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where you'll find the delicate *Glass Head of Zeus Sarapis*, a small yet captivating artifact from the Early or Mid Imperial Roman period (1st–2nd century CE). Standing just 3 3/4 inches (9.5 cm) tall, this translucent glass portrait captures the powerful visage of Zeus Sarapis—a syncretic deity blending the Greek king of the gods, Zeus, with Serapis, the Hellenistic-Egyptian god popularized in the Roman Empire. Gifted by J. Pierpont Morgan in 1917, it exemplifies the artistry of anonymous Roman glassmakers. Craft...