HERMS FROM APULUM

Abstract

This study proposes to analyse a monument type sporadically approached in the Romanian specialty literature, namely the three herms in the collections of the National Museum of the Union in Alba Iulia, whose place of origin is unclear. Amongst, two were designed to protect travellers, private properties and their owners. That discovered on Furcilor Hill, in 1898, is funerary. They are generally dated to the 3rd century AD, the last, to the period of the military anarchy, after AD 235, further evidence of the sculptural activity at Apulum, in the decline period of the province of Dacia. The herms with male portraits lacking any artistic propensity, while the herm with the portrait of Medusa preserves a few rather good quality features, without yet being comparable to import statues

Keywords

• apulum, herms, gorgon medusa, military anarchy