Hellenistic Terracotta Protome of Artemis of Ephesus on Stand

Originates from: Turkey 

Circa: 3rd Century BCE

Dimensions: 7” H x 5” W x 2.5” D 

Absolutely stunning Hellenistic terracotta protome depicting Artemis of Ephesus on stand, dating to the 3rd century BCE. A beautiful depiction showing well defined crown, facial features, hair and necklace cascading across the chest. Beautifully toned solid terracotta, with some loss to the nose and the lower portion of the chest but truly incredible example. 

Artemis of Ephesus was a distinct and heavily venerated mother-goddess of fertility and abundance, Anatolian-Greek in origin and largely different than the Greek mythological figure Of the same name. She was a hybrid deity, blending earlier Anatolian goddess traits with Greek art, and was a goddess of nature, a guardian of childbirth and known as a midwife to both human and animal kind, with worship of her likely influenced by Cybele, the Anatolian mother goddess. The importance of this piece being Artemis of Ephesus lies in where it would have been discovered - likely in modern day Turkey, where the temple of Ephesus sits, as this came from the collection of Iris Love, the archaeologist who famously discovered and excavated the Temple of Aphrodite in Knidos, Turkey.

Provenance: from the collection of notable American classical archaeologist Iris Cornelia Love (1933 - 2020). Love was best known for her discovery and excavation of the Temple of Aphrodite in Knidos, the Greek city in ancient Caria, modern day Turkey, among many other notable discoveries. 

Exhibited in the Brooklyn Museum of Art, 1968 - 2000s. Duke University Art Department Gallery, 1965.