Late Hellenistic or Early Roman Marble Figure of Pan of the Athens Type / Rome Type

An Ancient Late Hellenistic or Early Roman Marble Figure of the God Pan of the Athens / Rome Type
Shown standing upright on his furred goat legs and draped in an animal skin long tresses of hair falling to his shoulders a shaggy beard holding his pipes or syrinx in his hand
Incrustation and damages to the surface the lower legs missing
1st Century BC - 1st Century AD

Size: 36cm high, 17cm wide, 6cm deep - 14¼ ins high, 6¾ ins wide, 2½ ins deep / 41cm high - 16 ins high (with base)

An Ancient Late Hellenistic or Early Roman Marble Figure of the God Pan of the Athens / Rome Type

With their wild half-human character, figures of Pan symbolised Dionysiac untamed nature. His image is closely related to those of satyrs with whom he would roam the countryside often accompanying Dionysos on wine drinking, musical and erotic pursuits. He is shown carrying a Syrinx, a set of pipes named after the nymph Syrinx who was transformed into a reed bed and from which Pan made his pipe. This bucolic Pan figure was perhaps part of a decorative relief panel mounted on a pillar and displayed freestanding in an ancient villa garden or peristyle court as found in the city of Pompeii. Reliefs with figures and masks of a Dionysiac theme were particularly popular in garden decoration during the 1st century AD.

Sold Sothebys, London 8th / 9th December, 1986 Lot 306
Ex collection of Dieter Wyss (1923 - 1994)
Thence by descent
Sold Christies London, 13th October 2008, Lot 26
Ex English Private collection

cf: Four Statuettes of Athens / Rome Type in Rome in the Villa Albani Inventory No’s 508 - 511

Late Hellenistic or Early Roman Marble Figure of Pan of the Athens Type / Rome Type