Statue of Artemis Lafria
Archaeological museum of ancient Messene
3307-51
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Statue of Artemis Lafria
2nd century
Archaeological museum of ancient Messene
roman villa, east of the Asclepieion
Statue
MarbleHeight: 1.34 cm
Statue of Artemis in the type of Laphria, mended by many fragments. A roman copy dating to the Antonine period (96-192 CE). Found in 1989 in the room with opus sectile, to the east of the Asclepieion of ancient Messene. The goddess stands on her right leg, with the relaxed left one forward. She raises her right arm over the shoulder to draw an arrow from the quiver, not shown by the copyist. With her left elbow she leans against a tree trunk, holding her bow, whose lower surviving end is shaped as a swan head. Her head turns slightly downwards and to the left. Her hair, with traces of a pale (blonde?) colour, are drawn at the middle and led in thin curls to the back, where they are held in a bun. The upper part of the head is made separately and attached with an iron joint. The eyes have no incised pupils, the mouth is half open. She wears a chiton with an overfold and a belted himation on top. On her feet she wears shoes with an inner felt, whose wings hang over the top. The tree trunk is a type of support that is integral to the plastic composition. The type of Artemis wearing a chiton with a deep fold and a himation draped around her body is typical of Artemis Kynegetis. The type has been named Laphria, based on Artemis Laphria, who is depicted in roman coins from Patras. The hair and the facial features find parallels in copies and variation of Artemis Knidia of Praxiteles.