Arundel Marbles: "Augmented" Archaeology

So-called Cicero excavated by the Earl of Arundel in Rome between 1613 and 1614. The wart on the right cheek was added during restorations in the 1700s.

Back in 2016, I had the opportunity to participate in a study tour that included a visit to the Ashmolean Museum where I photographed the so-called "Arundel Marbles". So here is a selection of my photographs of them as today's featured "Antiquities Alive" virtual exhibit.

The Arundel marbles are a collection of carved Ancient Greco-Roman sculptures and inscriptions collected by Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel in the early seventeenth century, the first such comprehensive collection of its kind in England. They are now in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. The Earl of Arundel had supervised excavations in Rome, and deployed his agents in the Eastern Mediterranean, above all at Istanbul. Late in the seventeenth century, a visitor to Ottoman Turkey (in modern-day Izmir) complained: "the scarcity of antiquities now to be found in Smyrna arises from hence, that it furnished the greatest part of the Marmora Arundeliana."

The earl displayed his unrivaled collections at Arundel House, London with the exception of one 2nd century CE relief from Ephesus displayed at the Museum of London. The collection included not only works of art but important inscriptions including a relief showing parts of the human body used for Greek standard units of measure. The earl also collected the famous bronze "Arundel" head, a Hellenistic bronze portrait of a philosopher or king from Asia Minor now in the British Museum. Some scholars suspect some of the pieces were "planted" by helpful local guides to ensure the success of the Earl's expeditions. Some pieces also appear to have been restored a bit creatively by 17th century restorationists as well.

So-called Cicero excavated by the Earl of Arundel in Rome between 1613 and 1614. The wart on the right cheek was added during restorations in the 1700s.

Man wearing a toga excavated in Rome 1613-1614 and later given the name "Caius Marius. The head appears to have been produced between 1614 -1618. The torso is Roman, dated 1-100 CE.

Closeup of Man wearing a toga excavated in Rome 1613-1614 and later given the name "Caius Marius. The head appears to have been produced between 1614 -1618. The torso is Roman, dated 1-100 CE.

Statue of a woman. The hairstyle dates the head to the later Roman Republican or Augustan period but the body has been dated to the Hellenistic period 200-100 BCE.

Closeup of Statue of a woman. The hairstyle dates the head to the later Roman Republican or Augustan period but the body has been dated to the Hellenistic period 200-100 BCE.

The Oxford Bust or "Sappho". The head and torso come from different statues and were probably put together by a sculptor in the 1600s. The Head is a Roman version of a classical Aphrodite, 50-200 CE, the bust may be a reworked ancient piece if not produced in 1500-1640.

Another view of The Oxford Bust or "Sappho". The head and torso come from different statues and were probably put together by a sculptor in the 1600s. The Head is a Roman version of a classical Aphrodite, 50-200 CE, the bust may be a reworked ancient piece if not produced in 1500-1640.

features and long neck point to portraits made in the early 100s CE. The nose and part of the neck are restored. The lower bust is dated 1600-1750 CE.

Sphinx commissioned by the Earl of Arundel to partner a Roman Sphinx.

Sphinx, Roman, 50-200 CE. Sphinxes became popular in Rome beginning around 50 CE.

Roman statue of Eros, 100-200 CE. Eros sleeps, his torch turned down, a symbol of death used in many Roman memorials.

Closeup of Roman statue of Eros, 100-200 CE. Eros sleeps, his torch turned down, a symbol of death used in many Roman memorials.

Fragment of a marble sarcophagus depicting two drunken boys from a Bacchic revel, made in Athens 140-150 CE

All photos by Mary Harrsch, licensed with Creative Commons Attribution. (CC BY)