Greek marble altar
Of cylindrical form with moulding above and below, decorated with four frontally facing bull's heads with taeniae hanging down, linked by large foliate swags, with hanging grape bunches.
These altars were not only used as dedications in the sanctuaries of the gods, but also in private houses for domestic cults and for deceased family members. See L. Budde and R. Nichols, A Catalogue of the Greek and Roman Sculpture, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, 1964, pp. 41-42, nos. 71-72, for two altars from Delos of a similar type.
Period
Hellenistic period, 2nd-1st century B.C.
Dimension
H.
86.5 cm (34 1⁄16 in)
Diam.
73.3 cm (28 55⁄64 in)
Sotheby's Antiquities, London, 10 December 1984, lot 574
Art market, Switzerland, acquired from the above
Swiss private collection, from the above sale
