Roman steelyard weight in the form of a boxer

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Roman steelyard weight in the form of a boxer
Roman steelyard weight in the form of a boxer

Reflecting the Roman fascination with violent sports and spectacles, images of boxers were popular throughout the Roman period. This bust of a boxer functioned as a weight and the loop on the top of his head makes it clears that the weight was used with a steelyard scale. The unknown bronzesmith has carefully elaborated this utilitarian object. The naked bust depicts an uncouth looking man with a short stubbly haircut, a distinct widow's peak, swollen ears, a furrowed brow, and bulging eyes. Inlays of copper on the lips and silver in the eyes enliven the facial features. The one long lock of hair at the upper back of the head was known as a cirrus, the mark of a professional boxer or wrestler. The small spindly arms almost appear to have been added on to the powerful chest as an afterthought. The counterweights for steelyard scales often took the form of heads or busts, and were carefully executed miniature sculptures. The bronze outer shell of this bust was hollow cast and filled with lead to give it the proper weight.

Roman, 1st century CE.

Getty Villa Museum, Pacific Palisades, California (96.AC.186)

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Taken on: March 13, 2024
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