DOI: 10.26650/anar.35.1743264 ISSN: 2667-629X

A Half-Statue in the Small Herculaneum Woman Type from Flavias

Günay Karahan İkican
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The free-standing half-statue from Bahadırlı Village, Kadirli District, within the boundaries of the ancient city of Flavias, and now part of the Osmaniye Museum collection, constitutes a distinctive example of the Small Herculaneum Woman type that combines Roman Imperial sculptural traditions with the local artistic characteristics of Plains Cilicia. Carved from high-quality marble, the statue has not previously been published and has been dated using detailed stylistic and iconographic analyses. The figure's pudicitia gesture, the draping of the himation, and the head's posture reflect the aesthetic and moral ideals of the Roman Imperial period, while the shallow folds, linear emphasis, and surface treatment reveal the unique style and technical proficiency of regional stonemasons.The hairstyle follows the Early Hadrianic ceres type, yet the curls falling over the ears and their curled ends reflect local sculptural traditions. The figure's posture and gestures, together with the sculptor's technique convey the emotional depth of a mortal woman and achieve a naturalistic expression and dramatic effect. The slight upward tilt of the head and the gaze directed toward the viewer exemplify a provincial adaptation of Peter Zanker's fenstergucker effect.Overall, the statue represents a synthesis of Roman aesthetics and local production practices, demonstrating how provincial workshops interpreted central Roman artistic conventions within regional stylistic frameworks. It provides crucial evidence for understanding the dynamics of artistic production in Flavias and its surrounding region.

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