Head of Mars
2nd century
Medium
Marble
Dimensions
59.2 × 29.5 × 37.8 cm (23 3/8 × 11 5/8 × 14 7/8 in.)
Classification
marble
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
102074
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Mars, the Roman god of war, was viewed as both a warrior and a guardian of the Roman people. He is identified by his distinctive helmet, which is richly carved with imagery reflecting his martial role. The sides depict griffins, winged beasts associated with his vengeful nature, while the cheek pieces are each adorned with an image of Cupid carrying a spear and shield. Mars had a complicated romantic rela-tionship with Cupid’s mother, Venus, the Roman goddess of love, whose domain also included ...
About the Artist
Ancient Roman
The artists attributed to "Ancient Roman" in museum collections represent the anonymous craftsmen who produced the vast output of sculpture, frescoes, mosaics, and reliefs defining Roman visual culture from the Republic (c. 509–27 BCE) to the late Empire (c. 395 CE). Individual identities remain elusive, as Roman makers were typically viewed as skilled tradesmen—often enslaved Greeks or provincial...