ROMAN-LEVANTINE BASALT ALTAR WITH HELIOPOLITAN DEITIS
2th – 3rd centuries AD
height cm 40, without wooden stand

On each side a portrayal of deity: Apollo Helios, nimbate and radiate; a female head that reminds the Syrian goddess Aphrodite - Astarte; a diademed bearded man with short wavy hair, probably resembling to Zeus Helios; finally Tyche, with turret crown. The whole enriched by repetition of symmetrical couple of stylized phytomorphic elements. A sacre altar of the Roman Province of Syria, an extremely rare specimen, maybe the only one in private hand, beautiful example of the Roman-Oriental Religious syncretism.

Provenance. In the collection of an Italian Noble family since 1980s; returned by the Italian Judicial Authority to the owner; sold with an export licence issued by the Republic of Italy.