The Berkeley Plato: From Neglected Relic to Ancient Treasure, An Archaeological Detective StoryThis book explores the provenance of the so-called Berkeley Herm of Plato, a sculptural portrait that Stephen G. Miller first encountered over thirty years ago in a university storage basement. The head, languishing since its arrival in 1902, had become detached from the body, or herm, and had been labeled a fake. In 2002, while preparing another book, Miller—now an experienced archaeologist—needed an illustration of Plato, remembered this piece, and took another look. The marble, he recognized immediately, was from the Greek islands, the inscription appeared ancient, and the ribbons visible on the head were typical of those in Greek athletic scenes. The Berkeley Plato, rich in scientific, archaeological, and historical detail, tells the fascinating story of how Miller was able to authenticate this long-dismissed treasure. His conclusion, that it is an ancient Roman copy possibly dating from the time of Hadrian, is further supported by art conservation scientist John Twilley, whose essay appears as an appendix. Miller's discovery makes a significant contribution to the worlds of art history, philosophy, archaeology, and sports history and will serve as a starting point for new research in the back rooms of museums. |
Contents
HISTORY OF ACQUISITION AND THE FIRST CENTURY IN CALIFORNIA | 1 |
DESCRIPTION OF THE ARTIFACT | 4 |
PERTINENCE OF THE HEAD | 8 |
THE INSCRIPTION | 12 |
THE SEVEN SAGES | 16 |
THE TIVOLI PLATO | 24 |
THE BERKELEY PLATO AND THE RENAISSANCE | 29 |
PORTRAITS OF PLATO | 34 |
WHY PLATO AND RIBBONS | 52 |
CONCLUSION | 54 |
APPENDIX A THE SQUAREOMICRON AND SQUARETHETAPORTRAIT HERMS FROM TIVOLI | 56 |
APPENDIX B TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFICANALYSIS OF THE BERKELEY PLATO | 68 |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | 76 |
GENERAL INDEX | 82 |
86 | |
INDEX OF COLLECTIONS CITED | 90 |
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The Berkeley Plato: From Neglected Relic to Ancient Treasure, An ... Stephen G. Miller Limited preview - 2009 |
Common terms and phrases
acid Akademy Alkibiades ancient antiquity Apperson Hearst Museum Archivio Fotografico Aristophanes Athens authenticity Belvedere Berkeley Plato Bias Capitoline crown Diogenes ears Emerson encrustation example Favorinus Figure Greek gypsum Hadrian herm inscription herm of Plato Hülsen Iandolo Insc inscription by Ligorio inter tragos Italiae Julius Kleoboulos LeErme letters Location Louvre Mandowski and Mitchell marble miltos mitra modern Museum of Anthropology museum photograph Nesebar Neudecker Nike PAHMA palaistra Palma Venetucci 1992b patronymic Pentelic Periander Perikles phallus phallus socket Phoebe Apperson Hearst Pighius Pirro Ligorio Pittakos plaster Plato portrait Pope Julius III portrait herm portrait of Plato Red-figure residues Richter Sala delle Muse sculpture Seven Sages shoulder socket Silanion Smutny Sokrates Solon square omicrons statue surface tainia Taken to Rome Taur Thales Theophrastos Tivoli Tivoli Plato Twilley unknown unknown unknown unknown unknown Vatican victorious athlete Villa Albani Villa di Cassio Villa of Hadrian ΑΘΗΝΑΙΟΣ