The Fiery Eyes of a Maenad

Origin Determination of Faceted Garnet Eye Inlays in a Roman Bronze Bust From Southern Tyrol

Bibliographic Data

ID8353748
AuthorsH Albert Gilg (0000-0003-4304-9763, Technical University of Munich, corresponding author), Simon Wagner (0009-0001-6937-185X, Universität Innsbruck), Anton Höck (Tyrolean State Museum Ferdinandeum Innsbruck Innsbruck Austria), Peter Tropper (0000-0002-0596-2300, Universität Innsbruck)
Year2026
Publication date2026-02-16
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchaeometry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-813X • E-ISSN: 1475-4754
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/arcm.70115
OpenAlexW7129042258
LanguageEN
References cited18

In 1837, the Tyrolean State Museum Ferdinandeum in Innsbruck, Austria, purchased a Roman bronze statue of a maenad from the 2nd century ce with red garnets as facetted eye inlays found near Brixen, Southern Tyrol. These garnets were investigated using optical microscopy, a portable hand‐held and a stationary micro‐X‐ray fluorescence device, as well as Raman spectroscopy. The characteristic major and trace elemental compositions of the garnets and inclusions of colorless needles with a morphology consistent with sillimanite and rounded to subhedral quartz indicate that the garnets are derived from the Garibpet deposit, Telangana, Eastern India. This origin determination provides further evidence for the extensive gem trade network between the Roman Empire and the Indian subcontinent

Bronze · Bronze Age · Bust · Quartz · Statue · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis · Mineralogy and Gemology Studies

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