Identify this Palmyrene God?

[Paul Elliott]

I took this photograph a few years ago at the British Museum. I can't remember what it is... can anyone help? It looks like a Palmyrene warrior god.... but I have no books with illustrations to check...

Any help appreciated!

[koechlyruestow]

I dunno, but a 2nd century god in Parthian costume from a relief found in Hatra also has a snake and scorpion. I addition, this god has a three-headed cerberus-like dog on a leash and is accompagnied by a seatd godess, perhaps Atargatis, so he might be her demonic side-kick, as demons were often portrayed in armour or at least armed (M.A.R. Colledge Parthian Art plate 35)

[Renatus]

This is what the British Museum has to say about it:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/se...umpages=10

[D B Campbell]

This is what the British Museum has to say about it:

"... wearing Roman military costume ..." ?! :errr:

[Jori]

That's why I made this discussion : http://www.romanarmytalk.com/rat/20-roma...armor.html

My conclusion : "it could be used by romans in this part of the Empire".

[mcbishop]

This is what the British Museum has to say about it:

"... wearing Roman military costume ..." ?! :errr:

You'll find the curiously cyclical logic of that view trotted out all over Syria. I don't think Hellenisation is allowed ;-)

Mike Bishop

[koechlyruestow]

And not just in Syria.

[Jori]

How many years does it take for becoming "roman" ?
Were the byzantines romans?

Is the japanese whisky "real" whisky?

By the time of the Palmyrenean Gods, Greece was part of the Roman Empire for 2 centuries. Almost as long as the History of the USA.

I know that this armour is not of roman origin, but almost all of the equipment of the legionaries of this time also.

What is "roman" ?

[D B Campbell]

Is the japanese whisky "real" whisky?

It might be whisky, but it ain't Scotch! ;-)

[Vindex]

Is that a pint of Scotch (aka Scottish & Newcastle Breweries) Dr Campbell?

[Epictetus]

Sorry for going off-topic, but the idea of "identity" is fascinating, and there has been quite a few new releases in recent years. If you are interested in it, here are a couple of titles Cambridge has published just about the East:

Religious Identity in Late Antiquity: Greeks, Jews and Christians in Antioch by Isabella Sandwell
Hellenism in Byzantium: the Transformations of Greek Identity and the Reception of the Classical Tradition by Anthony Kaldellis
Philostratus by Ewen Bowie and Jas Elsner

and one I just read:

Local Knowledge and Microidentities in the Imperial Greek World edited by Tim Whitmarsh.

So describing a Palmyrene god in "Roman" military dress could be quite accurate, but it depends entirely upon the context. Who were the patrons and artists of the sculpture, and who were the public who would view it? Where was it placed, and why? What did they think of as "Roman," and why? It is really quite interesting, if you are into that sort of thing.

[Paul Elliott]

This is what the British Museum has to say about it:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/se...umpages=10

Completely forgotten about the BM's online collection - bravo!

[Paul Elliott]

Limestone votive stela; carved with 4 ll. inscription; shows Palmyrene god, Shadrafa, wearing Roman military costume with round shield, lance and sword; bearded; a snake is entwined around the lance and in the background is a scorpion; the whole is enclosed in a framed edge; it has been broken horizontally and remade with cement.

Inscription Language: Palmyrene
Inscription Translation: In the month Iyar [May] in the year 366 [AD 55] this stela was erected by Atenatan, son of Zabd'ateh, descendant of Toshabeb, to Shadrafa, the good god, in order that he may become patron in his sanctuary for him and the members of his house, all of them.
Inscription Comment: Records a dedication to Shadrafa by Atenaten, son of Zabda'aten.

[Theodosius the Great]

This is what the British Museum has to say about it:

"... wearing Roman military costume ..." ?! :errr:

I found some Egyptian examples of the same phenomenon online:

Horus wearing squamata. The BM's webpage has the description:
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/hig...pture.aspx

Anubis wearing Roman garb. The Vatican Museum's webpage has its description:
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/x-Schede...7_014.html

Years ago I posted a photo of a bronze Anubis statue where he wears a musculata but the link is dead. He was in a standing pose with arms outstretched. I can't seem to find it again.

~Theo