Hellenistic Portraits, McFadden 1951George H. McFadden

-5-

The diadem rests on the bare forehead with only a few strands of hair slipping up under it. The outline of the brow is composed of two parts divided by the furrow that runs along the center of the brow. The short nose is straight down to the tip and then makes a semi-circular turn up toward the nostrils and turns down again in a large semi-circular arch to the upper lip. The mouth is slightly open. The lips are full, with straight outlines. / The chin is full, firm and round. It projects well in front of the mouth. The eye is wide open; the pupil fairly protrudes from it giving an effect of keen and intelligent interest. The treatment here is impressionistic. A fold of fat falls across the corner of the eye. A particularly large mass of hair sweeps in a wide across the temple to terminate in a counter-swing along the outline of the ear. The style is at once realistic, impressionistic and highly decorative. There is a strong sense of design throughout. It is a masterful portrait of a man somewhat past the prime of life with marked baldness over the brow. The early coinportraits of Ptolemy I vary, but the distinguishing features are realistically emphasized: the baldness, the straight nose, the fold of fat over the eye, the tuft of hair on the temple, the round firm protruding chin. It is clear that the die-cutter is determined to represent faithfully his outstanding features.

There is a marble head in the Carlsberg Glyptothek museum (Fig. 2) identified as a portrait of Ptolemy I Soter on the