| Date | last quarter of the 1st century AD |
|---|---|
| Object type | sculpture |
| Medium, technique | carved, marble |
| Dimensions | height: 101.8 cm, width: 40.5 cm |
| Inventory number | 73.6.A |
| Collection | Classical Antiquities |
| On view | Museum of Fine Arts, Basement Floor, Classical Antiquity, Eros – Dionysos – Thanatos |
This statue represents a naked boy wearing only a ribbon in his hair, which here refers to victory. It is not certain whether or not the head originally belonged to the statue; the right arm and the support are modern supplements.
The left hand of the boy, held to his chest, clutches tiny objects: these are the knuckle bones of animals, astragaloi, used as dice in games of skill and luck, and were very popular in antiquity. Through the astragaloi, the statue immortalises the boy whose grave it once adorned as a winner.
Marble analyses have shown that the statue was made of Usak marble.
This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.
