Epicurean Symbolism in Herculaneum Art - Something To Track Down

    Quote from Godfrey

    As for #12, the shape of the head seems wrong and he's way too stern to accord with the images of Epicurus that I'm used to seeing.

    I agree that this is more stern than most, but I see this as consistent with his dominant presentation in the remaining busts. I would probably call it more "piercing" or "serious" than stern, but I think that's likely the way he was perceived -- as very SERIOUSLY pursing his philosophy.

    For example this one, which is not one of the small ones from herculaneum but which makes him also look serious:

    And look at the focused / concerned eyebrows here:


    As for the deviant version - let me get this out of the way - I see the deviant version as THIS one which many commentators today like to use because the damage to the eyes and angle of head can be lighted in a way that makes him look like a stupified pot-head ;) This is the one I see as - in its present form - out of character. If it were an attempt to make him smiling, I would say it's acceptable, but even before the eyebrow was damaged it appears to me to be more of a "blank" expression, which again would not be a good look for someone as acute as Epicurus.

    Comparing #12 to #21, I would describe (poorly, I admit) #12 as having almost "pugilistic" features compared to Epicurus' typical portrayal. That's a bad word choice, but the one that comes immediately to mind. Look at #12's broad, short nose, compared with Epicurus' relatively long, thin nose. #12's head shape seems thicker, Epicurus' longer.

    Put another way, I picture (rightly or wrongly) Epicurus as an ectomorph body type based on his typical portrayal, whereas I picture #12 as more of an endomorph type.

    My go to characteristics for Epicurus are the forked beard with the definite furrow in the middle and the vertical furrow between his eyebrows. Lots of vertical furrows come to think about it ^^