Hellenistic statue attributed to Asclepius

Sculpture

Museu d’Arqueologia de Catalunya (MAC EMP-11530/11532)

2nd c. BC

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75 x 203.4 x 58

This sculpture, found in 1909, has become a symbol of Emporion's Greek past. It is made up of several parts, which fit together: the bust with the arms, sculpted in marble from the island of Paros, and the rest of the body, with a tunic and sandals, carved in marble from the Pentelic quarries (Attica). In the same area, the remains of a snake were found, also sculpted out of Paros marble. It has traditionally been considered to be a representation of Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, an attribution that has led to the reform of the religious area to the south of the Greek city being interpreted as the creation of a sanctuary with health-giving functions. However, other attributions, such as Agathodaimon or Zeus Serapis, have also been proposed. Whatever the case, the presence of this sculpture in Emporion represents the introduction of new cults in the context of the important transformation of the city in the 2nd century BC. 3D Model: UAB Open Labs