Poseidon, along with his brother Zeus, belongs to the first generation of gods whose aspect has been depicted as human-like and not as monsters or natural forces as their father, the horrible Cronus who devoured his sons. As the God of the seas, Poseidon — Neptune for the Romans — was often portrayed emerging from the waters, his curly hair still wet, and a trident held in one hand. He resided in the marine abysses but sometimes sorted out of the waters to catch by the force of waves a young woman calling him from the shore. In fact, at that time, mortals and gods were closer than we believe now, and desire was a passion common to both.
The bronze statue of Neptune dates back to the Roman imperial age. Found in the waters of the river Rhodanus near the city of Lugdunus (Lione), it is currently on display at the Museum of Ancient Sculpture in Rome.
Despite its metallic consistency, the sculpture’s texture and reflections resemble a wet surface, evocative of that once powerful God re-emerging from centuries of oblivion as a relic from deep waters.
More ancient sculptures in Melancholy of the Ancient World
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