Head of Jupiter sculpted in Verona Red Marble - Italy 16th/17th Century

Sculpture in fine red Verona marble, depicting the head of Jupiter, created by a skilled master sculptor between approximately 1550 and 1630. In all likelihood the work was commissioned by an important noble family from northern Italy to enrich the sumptuous furnishings.

Its dimensions are: Height 24 cm, Width 20 cm and Depth 12 cm.

Excellent storage conditions.

Jupiter (Latin Iupiter or also Iuppiter - accusative Iovem - or Diespiter) is the supreme god/divinity (the king of all the gods) of Roman religion and mythology whose symbols are lightning and thunder: Latin god similar to deity of Greek mythology/religion Zeus or Tinia in Etruscan mythology.

Tutelary deity in the epithet of Jupiter Optimus Maximus of the Roman State had his main sanctuary in Rome on the Capitoline Hill, where he was venerated in the archaic age in the triad Jupiter-Mars-Quirinus, which then evolved in the republican age into Jupiter-Juno-Minerva.

The major flame called Flamine diale was consecrated to his cult, which had a particular importance and sacredness as it was almost a living personification of Jupiter, whose rites it celebrated, it enjoyed great honours, but, precisely because of its function, it was subjected to multiple limitations and taboos the most important of which were that he could not leave the city for more than one day, this limit was increased by Augustus to two days and he could not sleep outside his bed for more than three nights.

In art it was sculpted in marble by the Romans, in bronze by Greek traders.

Jupiter's loves are mostly a Latin version of Zeus' lovers and children; some names are exceptions, such as Circe, from whom he would have had Faunus, and Larba, the African king, who he would have had from a nymph, Garamantis. Secondly, it was told of his love affairs with his daughter Venus, with whom he fathered Cupid.

The Romans consecrated the walnut tree to Jupiter: in fact its scientific name "Juglans Regia", still used today, derives from the contraction of the Latin expression "Lovis Glans" (Jupiter's acorn) and from the specific epithet "regia" which underlines its importance.