Drawing of a face

((:duo capita hominum ad sin.))


Description of Drawing (English): heads of two people facing left
Findspot: Smyrna, Basilica (Agora.1)
Drawing Category: Human figures
Writing Style: Graffito/incised
  • Graffito Height: 7
  • Graffito Length: 4
Bibliography: Bagnall, R. S. et al., Graffiti from the Basilica in the Agora of Smyrna (2016): 339.
Commentary: Graffito of two male heads, located at the southern face of Pier A54, looking into the Basilica’s northern corridor. Both heads are in profile, turned toward the left. The head to the left, possibly of a younger man, is characterized by a tall and curved forehead, a long eyebrow above an oval eye with marked pupil, small pointed nose, and undershot chin. The neck is short and thin, and the image is cut right below it by a straight line. The top of the head has no indication of individual curls: the man is either bald or with extremely short hair. The man to the right, older in age, has a rounded forehead, small eye, stocky nose, and a long and pointed chin. The neck is short and squat, and a straight line at its base closes the image. Over his head is a series of radial lines that can be interpreted as hair or a wreath. The two men can be understood as spectators looking at a gladiator located to the left of this scene (see DP54.2). but a connection to T42.2 is also possible (see comment to that text).
Suggested Citation: AGP-SMYDP0541, The Ancient Graffiti Project, <https://ancientgraffiti.org/Graffiti/graffito/AGP-SMYDP0541> [accessed: 01 Dec 2024]
Contributions:

Editor: Roger S. Bagnall

Principal Contributor: Roger S. Bagnall

Last Revision: 2016-10-03