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July 26, 2006
Clades Variana
Some time ago I was reading an article about the work to uncover the true site of the Clades Variana (The Varus Disaster) at Kalkriese. This was one of the greatest events of the classical world (in the sense of importance); it haunted the Roman empire for the rest of its days and, in the eyes of some historians, set back by roughly 2,000 years a process that would not be completed until one fine day in May, 1945, and then only by the Americans.
Pictured above is the most spectacular (I think at least aesthetically) object yet recovered from the site: a Roman cavalry officer's mask (click on it for a larger image). I can't get past it.
To me it possesses at the same time an awesome humanizing and de-humanizing energy. I would kill to have it on display in my home. I wonder whether there isn't someone who makes a respectable copy? I also wonder whether there isn't some modern sculptor who has made some sort of equally moving abstract statement inspired by it?
Posted by dag at July 26, 2006 9:11 PM
Comments
Wow, you're right. That mask is haunting. I'm sure that you could probably find someone to make a good copy of it if you tried...
Posted by: The Good Rabbi at July 30, 2006 12:48 AM