Head of Poseidon

The head of Poseidon / Antigonous Doson is a Greek bronze sculpture. The sculpture was created during the Hellenistic period (300-30 BC). His identity was unclear until the discovery of an ancient Greek silver coin. The coin created during 227-221 BC portrays the Macedonian King Antigonous Doson as Poseidon, God of the Sea, which reestablishes the supremacy of Macedonians over sea. Poseidon / Antigonous Doson’s head seemed very interesting, because of its relative size and texture.

The color composition and extreme details to contrast and brightness on his face and beard creates a very realistic effect.

The bronze head full of thick wavy hair and on top of which he wears a head band symbolizes royalty as a God / ruler. His fine facial bones and full open lips create a sensation that the sculpture is alive and breathing. The empty-eye-socket seemed a bit weird. It probably could have contained a stone of some sort to create eyes which might be stolen or lost.

The symbol of his power was the fisherman’s fork or trident, by which he produced earthquakes, rose up islands from the bottom of the sea and caused wells to spring from the Earth. Poseidon possessed the power of soothing troubled waters, creating angry waves and granting safe passage across seas. For this reason Poseidon was offered sacrifices and thanksgiving before and after a safe prosperous journey by sea.