A Sard Intaglio with a Depiction of Priapus from the Acropolis of Olba

Abstract

During the 2018 campaign at Olba (Silifke District of Mersin Turkey), a broken sard was recovered from a child’s grave. Its fragmentary condition renders identification difficult. Markings at the top suggest that it might portray a figure associated with Dionysiac worship; however, the iconography fairly clearly suggests a representation of Priapus. The confident design and skilful modelling of the limbs, and the considerable formal rigour that combines classical style with a simplified rendering of the knees and feet characteristic of the Italic-Republican ‘pellet style’, allow the sard to be dated to the second century BC.

Keywords

• olba
• ıntaglio
• turkey
• engraved gems
• priapus
• acropolis