UC 64845

Tell el Yahudiyeh: Head of Alexander the Great ?

Alexander the Great was worshipped as a god after his death. Therefore many statues were produced showing the king. The statues represent different types. There are the sculptures which were made in his lifetime or copy contemporary statues. There are statues produced posthumously and there are many statues of other kings and gods which are influenced by portraits of the king.

The identification of UC 64845 as Alexander the Great is not certain. The head shares some features with the portrait of Alexander: the aboundant curly hair and (more important) the slanting head to look to the left and slightly up wards. Therefore it is at least influenced by the portraits of the king.

Bibliography:

Bresciani 1980 (publication of a small temple, including its paintings, for the cult of Alexander the Great)
Gebauer 1938-1939 (collection of Alexander portraits, important for including less well-known examples)
Smith1999: 58-60 (monograph on Hellenistic royal sculpture with a summary on the depictions of Alexander the Great)
van Graeve 1974 (discussion of one type of Alexander portrait, similar to UC 64845)