Page 109 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 13(2) (2025)

The Caryatid from Osor (Apsorus): A Provincial Reinterpretation of a Classical Motif
Kariatida z Osorja (Apsorus): provincialna reinterpretacija klasičnega motiva

Katarina Šmid
University of Primorska, Faculty of Humanities
katarina.smid@fhs.upr.si

Abstract
The study examines the marble female statue from Osor (Apsorus; now in the Museo Archeologico
Nazionale di Venezia, inv. no. 162-A), traditionally referred to as Medea, Caryatid, or Muse-Caryatid.
The figure is dressed in a chiton and diplex, it was carved with an unfinished back, suggesting placement
against a wall. Stylistic and iconographic analysis of its posture and drapery associate it more closely with
the Tralles/Cherchell type of caryatides than with the Erechtheion prototypes, thereby underscoring 109
its primarily decorative rather than structural purpose. The statue’s archaizing hairstyle and drapery, to-
gether with other sculptural finds from Apsorus, suggest an Early Imperial date of production, most
likely within the Augustan or Julio-Claudian period. The absence of a clear archaeological context pre-
cludes certainty about its original function, but its decorative role – possibly within a public building or
elite residence – appears most plausible. The statue exemplifies the transmission and adaptation of clas-
sical models in provincial Roman art, reflecting Apsorus’s cultural engagement with modern metropol-
itan artistic trends.
Keywords: Apsorus, Caryatid, Grimani collection, Dalmatia, Augustan era

Izvleček
Prispevek obravnava marmorni ženski kip iz Osorja (Apsorus; danes Museo Archeologico Nazionale
di Venezia, inv. št. 162-A), ki je bil tradicionalno poimenovan Medeja, Kariatida ali Muza-Kariatida. Fi-
gura je oblečena v hiton in diplex, njen hrbet je neobdelan, kar nakazuje, da je bila prvotno postavljena
ob steno. Slogovna in ikonografska analiza tako v drži kot v draperiji kip povezujeta s kariatidami tipa
Tralles/Cherchell ter ne s prototipi iz Erehtejona, kar poudarja njegovo dekorativno in ne nosilno funk-
cijo. Tako arhaizirajoča pričeska kot oblačilo in preostale kiparske najdbe nakazujejo njegov nastanek v
zgod njem cesarstvu, verjetno v avgustejski ali širše julijsko-klavdijski dobi. Zaradi pomanjkanja jasnega
arheološkega konteksta prvotni namen kipa ni z gotovostjo določljiv, vendar se zdi njegova dekorativna
vloga – morda kot okras neke javne stavbe ali razkošne zasebne vile – najverjetnejša. Kip obenem pona-
zarja prenos in prilagoditev klasičnih vzorov v provincialni rimski umetnosti ter odraža kulturno vpe-
tost Apsora v sočasne umetnostne tokove metropole.
Ključne besede: Apsorus, kariatida, zbirka Grimani, Dalmacija, avgustejska doba

Introduction (Dütschke 1882, 46, no. 115; Favaretto 2002,
he deteriorated marble female statue 91), Caryatid (Anti 1930, 29, no. 5; Polacco and
(Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Ven- Traversari 1988, 19, no. 3; De Paoli 2006–2007,
1
Tezia, inv. no. 162-A; fig. 1), common- 428) or Muse-Caryatid (De Paoli 2006–2007,
2
ly referred to as Medea (Faber 1982, 74), Muse 446), was excavated in Osor (it. Ossero) and
1 Dütschke (1882, 46, no. 115); Anti (1930, 29, no. 5); Polacco and Traversari (1988, 19, no. 3, with the list of the earlier literature);
De Paoli (2006–2007, 428); Harl and Harl (2025, 19809).
2 The earlier literature suggests that the object was excavated prior to 1587 (e.g. Valentinelli 1863, 12, no. 51; Dütschke 1882, 46,
no. 115; Anti 1930, 29, no. 5; Polacco and Traversari 1988, 19, no. 3, who wrongly indicate that it was donated to Giovanni Grim-
ani); however, since Antonio Grimani died in 1523, the find must have occurred significantly earlier.
https://doi.org/10.26493/2350-5443.13(2)109-119 © author/authors