Getty Museum

Statue of Silvanus

Date

1st–2nd century A.D.

Medium

Marble

Culture

Roman

Department

Sculpture

Institution

Getty Museum

This statuette represents Silvanus, the Roman god of forests, trees, and fields, often associated with the countryside and its wild, untamed aspects. The head, right arm, and both legs below the knees are missing. Representing the abundance of the forests, Silvanus is usually shown as a nude man with an armful of fresh fruits held in the fold of a goat-skin tied over the right shoulder. Here, the fruits include apples, grapes on the vine, pinecones, and more. With his left hand, Silvanus grips a pine bough, while the missing right likely held a pruning knife. Small-scale representations of Silvanus such as this one were popular garden decorations throughout Roman Italy and the surrounding provinces.

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