Male Votive Head

This votive head of a bearded man wearing a veil has a characteristic Etruscan coiffeur: two rows of long locks with tight curls at their ends are combed forward to frame his forehead. The mustache and beard are made up of similar curled locks. His lips are slightly parted. The unarticulated back forms the veil, which covers the crown of his head. The clay is pink-orange and a beige-pink slip covers the head. Traces of white preparatory coat are preserved in the flesh area and rose-flesh color on the forehead, right nostril, and on the proper left temple below the curls. Heads and busts were the most common type of votive sculpture, and were dedicated in sanctuaries to petition or thank the gods. Votive offerings became especially prolific during times of conflict. The bearded male type, which may represent a priest of a god, is attested at the site of Cerveteri in southern Etruria.