Ancieny Kreikka, Kypros Kalkkikivi Pää sankari Herkules Heracles. 23 cm H. 4. vuosisadalla eKr. Espanjan vientilisenssi.

The statue combines the iconography of the Greek hero or Herkules Heracles with that of the Phoenicians Melqart and Reshef.

- nice quality of the face details -

Greek culture, Cyprus, 4th century BC.

White Limestone

Height 23 cm with stand. 17,5 cm without stand.

PROVENANCE: This object comes from an estate in Brittany, France, it was the uncle of the current owner who bought these objects, he built his collection between 1968 and 1980.

CONDITION: Original state. Not restored.

DESCRIPTION:

The statue combines the iconography of the Greek hero or demigod Heracles with that of the Phoenicians Melqart and Reshef. However, the worship of Heracles is not attested in Cyprus before the Hellenistic periods, while the cult of Melqart is known very indirectly (and Reshef was probably much more important, as the epigraphic evidence suggests.) Reshef, who is mentioned in inscriptions around 400 BC, it is quite varied.

Therefore, it is likely that the fusion of features found in this statue represents first and foremost a local god concerned with protecting humans from natural threats. Scholars often refer to him as the "Master of the Lion" or the "Master of the Animals" (the latter analogous to the "Mistress of the Animals" found in ancient Greek texts).

It was later assimilated with the Greeks Apollo and Reshef in particular, who have close associations with hunting and the natural world of Cyprus.

Notes:
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The seller guarantees that he acquired this piece according to all national and international laws related to the ownership of cultural property. Provenance statement seen by Catawiki.
- The piece includes authenticity certificate.
- The piece includes Spanish Export License.
- The seller guarantees that he acquired this piece according to all national and international laws related to the ownership of cultural property. Provenance statement seen by Catawiki.
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