Neptune of Lyon
| Neptune of Lyon | |
|---|---|
| La statue de Neptune | |
 | |
| Material | Bronze |
| Length | 63 cm (25 in) |
| Height | 143 cm (56 in) |
| Width | 55 cm (22 in) |
| Created | 2nd century |
| Discovered | 28 March 1859 Discovered in Lyon in the bed of the Rhône |
| Place | Lyon, France |
| Present location | Lugdunum Museum |
| Identification | br.054 |
| Culture | Gallo-Roman culture |
| https://lugdunum.grandlyon.com/Oeuvre/2587-Statue-en-bronze-de-Neptune | |
Neptune of Lyon, or Neptune of Rhône, is a 2nd century Gallo-Roman sculpture of the god Neptune. Discovered on 28 March 1859 in the Rhône, right along the left bank between the Hôtel-Dieu and La Guillotière bridges in Lyon, France. It is the largest bronze sculpture of the god in France, and also the largest Roman Gaul statue, primarily made for worship in Lugdunum, Gallia Lugdunensis. After its immediate discovery, it was donated to the Museum of Fine Arts of Lyon (MFA Lyon) on 1 April 1859, but is now part of the Lugdunum Museum collection, under inventory number br.054.[1]
Description
The Neptune of Lyon measures 1.43 m × 0.55 m × 0.63 m (4 ft 8 in × 1 ft 10 in × 2 ft 1 in), and is made of hollow cast and welded bronze on a round, molded base. It was initially speculated to have been Jupiter at first, but the identity of Neptune was made thanks to the curled, "wet-ringed" hair.[1] Whether deposited in the river, or abandoned there, the further links to the Rhône solidified its attribution.[2] Though now missing, a fish or a dolphin would have been held in his right hand, and a trident in his left.[1] His eyes would have been inlaid with silver.[2]
The MFA Lyon's study of the statue indicates that Neptune's attribution to the sea was extended to being a water god in general. Classified as a large effigy made in a local Gallic workshop, the Neptune of Lyon is also noted to be cruder than other Roman sculptures, with a borrowed pose, a long torso, and short legs. The sculptors of the workshop likely attempted to imitate some Lysippic models.[2]
In its original usage, it likely was displayed in a city temple in Lugdunum, and is likely merged in Gallo-Roman and Celtic worship.[3][4]
From 6 February to 7 June 2026, the Neptune of Lyon was displayed in Rome for the first time at the Giovanni Barracco Museum of Ancient Sculpture, as part of a partnership and loan exchange between the Rome's City Council and the Lugdunum Museum, which commemorates the latter's 50th anniversary of its founding.[5][6]
References
- ^ a b c "La statue de Neptune - Lugdunum Musée et théâtres romains". lugdunum.grandlyon.com. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ^ a b c Musée de la civilisation gallo-romaine (Lyon) aut; Boucher, Stéphanie; Tassinari, Suzanne red (1977). Bronzes antiques du Musée de la civilisation gallo-romaine à Lyon. Internet Archive. Lyon : Musée de la civilisation gallo-romaine ; Paris : diffusion de Boccard. p. 64.
- ^ "The Neptune of Lyon, Exhibition Giovanni Barracco Museum of Ancient Sculpture, Rome". Artsupp. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ^ "Il Nettuno di Lione al Museo Barracco (The Neptune of Lyon at the Barracco Museum)". Turismo Roma. Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ^ "The Neptune of Lyon arrives in Rome: at the Barracco Museum one of the great bronzes from Roman Gaul". www.finestresullarte.info. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- ^ "Il Nettuno di Lione al Museo Barracco | Museo di Scultura Antica Giovanni Barracco". www.museobarracco.it. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
Content Disclaimer
Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.
- The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
- There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
- It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
- Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
- Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.