Portrait Statues of Women on the Island of Delos

Delos reveals significant insights into the portrayal of women through sculpture during its late Hellenistic/late Republican period (after 167/6 BCE). The island's strategic position under Athenian control attracted Italian traders and businessmen, leaving a rich legacy of epigraphic, archaeological, and sculptural evidence. The study focuses on the formats and body types used for female images in freestanding statues and funerary reliefs, with particular attention to an unusual marble portrait head from the House of the Diadoumenos. Through analysis of the portrait's style, date, and find context, the research suggests possible identities for the subject, contributing to our understanding of gender representation and social dynamics in this period.

Dillon, S. (2013). Portrait Statues of Women on the Island of Delos. Women and the Roman City in the Latin West, 201–223. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004255951_012