Not titled [portrait bust of a woman, Hagar]

Marble bust of a woman (Hagar) purportedly taken from a tomb in the ruins of the Palace of Zenobia, in Palmyra (then known in Arabic as Tadmur) in central Syria. Archaeologists have discovered no trace of the palace of Zenobia, but there are cemetery areas with tower tombs in the Palmyrene ruins. The Palmyran civilisation existed from 2BC, and for a time it was a flourishing Roman colony; but its queen, Zenobia, challenged Roman rule and the city fell to the Romans in 274 A.D. Trendall dates the bust at c.150 in the book 'The Shellal Mosaic and other classical antiquities in the Australian War Memorial'. He states, "The bust is a superb example of Palmyrene portrait art at its best, and from the stylistic and epigraphic evidence may be dated to about the middle of the second century AD" (Trendall, 1973, p.29). The inscription beside the head is Syriac. It is translated as "Statue of Hagar / daughter of Zebida / son of Malé, wife / of Taimai, son / of Bel-suri / (descendant) of Taimai. Alas!" (Trendall, 1973, pp.28-9). An excerpt from 'The Shellal Mosaic and other classical antiquities in the Australian War Memorial' describes the bust of Hagar: "It is clear from the richness of her dress and the ornaments upon it that Hagar was a lady of wealth and standing. She is shown as a veiled matron wearing a costly diadem, elaborate earrings with pendants, a bead necklace with a crescent moon in the centre and a rich pectoral. Her mantle is fastened to the left shoulder by an embossed circular brooch with tassels hanging from it and under her arm she carries the key of the house. On her wrists are heavy bracelets, and some sort of a jewelled band must have encircled her left hand in which she holds the distaff and spindle, emblems of weaving and spinning, those vital occupations of the ancient housewife" (Trendall, 1973, pp.29). The bust of Hagar is a Palmyrene funerary relief portrait. There are many other known examples in museums around the world, including the British Museum. These busts were used in Palmyrene tower tombs, which took the form of tall stone tower-mausoleums. The tower tombs would house many generations of large wealthy families. They were divided internally into several floors. Each story consisted of a single central room with long rectangular niches set around the edge like shelves. These shelves could house a single inhumed body, and once a shelf was occupied, it would be sealed by a stone plaque that was decorated with a sculpted relief bust of the deceased and their name.

The bust was previously known as 'Bust of a woman' and 'Palmyrene lady'. When it came to the Memorial its marble was yellowed and veined, but it seems to have once been pure white. It was originally bolted to a concrete shelf for display purposes, but has since been removed. The bust was a gift to the Memorial from Lieutenant General Sir Harry Chauvel, who was given it by the Sheikh of Tadmur in interesting circumstances: Two Australian airmen were forced down in Syria and saved through the hospitality of an Arab Sheikh. As a reward, since a gift of money was out of the question, Lieutenant General Sir Harry Chauvel presented the Sheikh with a gold watch, and, in return, was given this sculpture.

See References:

Chapter: Bust of a Lady from Palmyra, from publication 'The Shellal Mosaic; and other classical antiquities in the Australian War Memorial', Canberra By A. D. Trendall, forward by Sir Harry Chauvel, Australian War Memorial, Canberra 1973.

Natasha Sheldon, 'The Ancient Tombs of Palmyra', 7 Nov. 2009, http://www.suite101.com/content/the-ancient-tombs-of-palmyra-a166841, last accessed 8 November 2010.