A LIFE-SIZED HEAVY GRAY SCHIST HEAD OF HERACLES, GANDHARA, 4TH-5TH CENTURYPowerfully modeled with a stern expression, framed by dense facial hair arranged into long voluminous curls, with a billowing moustache and beard, and wavy hair surmounted by the coat of the Nemean lion as indicated by the finely incised eyes and nostrils at the top of the head.Provenance: Indian private collection, by repute acquired in India around 1960, and thence by descent in the same family. Belgian private collection, acquired from the above. A private invoice written by the previous owner, dated 29 February 2020, and confirming the provenance information stated above, accompanies this lot.Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age, extensive wear, losses, nicks, scratches, soiling from excavation.Weight: 30.3 kg (total)Dimensions: Height 33 cm (excl. base)Mounted on an associated metal base. (2)The Nemean lion was a vicious monster in Greek mythology that lived at Nemea. It was eventually killed by Heracles. It could not be killed with mortals' weapons because its golden fur was impervious to attack and its claws were sharper than mortals' swords and could cut through any armor. Heracles wore the Nemean lion's coat after killing it, as it was impervious to the elements and all but the most powerful weapons.Literature comparison: Compare with a Gandharan terracotta head of Dionysus (The God of Wine and Divine Intoxication) from the same period in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (accession no. 1979.507.2).四至五世紀健陀羅灰片岩赫拉克勒斯頭像 造型嚴謹,鬚髮濃密,高鼻深目,波浪狀的頭髮,如眼睛與鼻孔以及頭頂顯示,似乎被涅墨亞獅子的外衣所覆蓋。 來源:印度私人收藏,據説大約在1960年購於印度,之後保存在同一家族至今。比利時私人收藏,購於上述收藏。隨附一份于2020年2月29日出具的前藏家的私人發票,確認上述出處信息。 品相:狀況良好,與年代相符,廣泛磨損,損失,缺口,划痕,出土時的污染。 重量:縂30.3 公斤 尺寸:高33 厘米 (不含底座) 金屬底座。 文獻比較:一件健陀羅酒神狄俄倪索斯頭部陶像,來自同一年代,見紐約大都會博物館 (編號 1979.507.2)。