Head of Mars
2nd century
- Medium
- Marble
- Classification
- Sculpture
- Dimensions
- 59.2 × 29.5 × 37.8 cm (23 3/8 × 11 5/8 × 14 7/8 in.)
- Culture
- Roman Empire
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago, Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
- Credit line
- Katherine K. Adler Memorial Fund
- Rights
- Public domain (CC0), as the museum states it.
- Who can see it
- Teens profiles and older: its subject is for older viewers (war, death, the Passion, drink or the like). How works are placed
View at the Art Institute of Chicago
About this work
Mars, the Roman god of war, was viewed as both a warrior and a guardian of the Roman people. He is identified by his distinctive helmet, which is richly carved with imagery reflecting his martial role. The sides depict griffins, winged beasts associated with his vengeful nature, while the cheek pieces are each adorned with an image of Cupid carrying a spear and shield. Mars had a complicated romantic rela-tionship with Cupid’s mother, Venus, the Roman goddess of love, whose domain also included warfare and military victory.
Description © Art Institute of Chicago, CC BY 4.0
