Asses of the Gods

Terme di Diocleziano, Rome, hermaphrodite

I don't know what it says about me that I think the most beautiful statue in the entire collection is Hermaphrodite. This is the one in the Terme di Diocleziano. There is a more famous one in the Borghese Gallery, but they have turned it so the boy bits are facing a wall and absolutely not visible to visitors.

Terme di Diocleziano, hermaphrodite front

No such problems here. This statue is clearly meant to be in the middle of something. It is beautiful from every angle, and s/he is turned so that there are areas of focus from every angle, as well.

Terme di Diocleziano, hermaphrodite

It is a replica of the 2nd century BC original.

Terme di Diocleziano, hermaphrodite

Eric pointed out that his/her features are generally more masculine than you'd normally expect - possibly quite accurate to the few true hermaphrodites that were around at the time.

Terme di Diocleziano, Rome, discombolo Terme di Diocleziano, Rome, discombolo

The famous Discombolo, from an angle you won't normally get to see. These sorts of sporting figures began the tradition of nude sculpture in Rome. Sports were played in the nude, so sportsmen were sculpted in the nude. Later, gods were depicted this way as well, and later still, ordinary people. This is a 3rd century AD restoration of a 5th century BC sculpture.

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