Funerary relief of Haliphat from Palmyra (PAL0119)

Funerary relief of Haliphat from Palmyra (PAL0119)

Limestone funerary relief of Haliphat, identified as such in the Palmyrene inscription over her shoulders, which likewise gives her date of death as 231 CE. She wears a veil and headdress, and her wavy hair is parted in the middle and secured behind her head beneath the veil. A lock of hair extends from the part over her forehead. She wears a thin strand of beads across her neck, above a series of Venus rings. In addition, -----beaded necklaces, and two rings on her left-hand little-finger. Her tunic and cloak are fastened with a large circular brooch with a rosette and geometric decorations. Her right hand is raised to her cheek, and she extends her forefinger and middle-finger to touch her cheek, while the ring- and little-fingers are bent to touch her jaw. Her left arm is draped but her left hand extends from her cloak to hold the edge, while extending her pinky- and fore-fingers. Behind her is a background composed of a cloth and two palm fronds secured with rosettes at each end. Traces of paint are still legible on Haliphat's drapery and face.

Image rights: Freer | Sackler Museum of Art

Limestone

PAL0119

60.1x55.3x23cm

Upper right and upper left portions of relief background

Owned by Joseph Marcopoli in Aleppo, Syria to 1908

Palmyra

Freer Gallery of Art, F1908.236