
Figurine of a New Comedy actor in the role of “Pornoboskos”, or “The Brothel Keeper”. The actor is standing with the left lag slightly advanced. He wears a long chiton with a very elaborate wreath, and holds a “sistrum” in his right hand. His mask shows strongly raised brows, wrinkled forehead, and beard arranged in formal curls. The terracotta statuette was painted in red-brown on the face and hands, and mauve on the mantle.
This and the “Oulos Neaniskos“ figurine were found in Myrina a Greek city on the coast of Mysia (now Turkey, northern respect Izmir) famous for its remarkable and distinctive series of terracotta figurines. Many of them exhibit a considerable objectivity in depiction, for example in showing the edge of the tights at ankle or wrist, and more particularly in showing the mask as a mask, its back edge distinguished and the actor’s mouth sometimes visible inside; the features of the mask are often modeled in dry, clear detail.
Source: T.L.B. Webster, J.R, Green and A. Seeberg, “ Monument illustrating New Comedy: Volume 2
Terracotta statuette
H. 19,0 cm.
Late 2nd – 1st century BC
From Myrina
Athens, National Archaeological Museum , No Inv. 5056