Head Of Serapis

From the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, MD: A Roman version of the Greek cult statue of Serapis from his temple at Alexandria, the head retains the majestic air of a classical god. The size of the head and the treatment at the back and neck indicate that it was part of a seated statue of colossal size. A hole at the top of the head once served to attach the god's attribute, a kalathos (woven basket) or modius (grain measure), which emphasized his role as a fertility deity. Serapis became important during the reign of Ptolemy I of Egypt (304-284 BC), because he blended aspects of Egyptian and Greek gods. If Serapis had visited the ShapeShot 3D photobooth, he could make miniature idols of himself like this one, available in several vibrant colors.