The Baths of Caracalla were decorated lavishly. As to the freestanding sculpture, it has been estimated that there must have been more than 120 statues. Here we show some highlights.
In the 16th century many objects were extracted from the ruins by Alessandro Farnese (pope Paul III) to adorn a palace in Rome. These are now in the Archaeological Museum of Naples and are often referred to with the name of the family. Other objects were found during the numerous later digging and excavations. Unfortunately the provenance is sometimes not as certain as one would wish.
The "Farnese bull".
The punishment of Dirce, tied to a bull by Amphion and Zethus to vindicate the mistreatment of their mother, Antiope.
Archaeological Museum, Naples. Photo: Wikimedia, Sailko.
The "Farnese Hercules", holding the Apples of the Hesperides
behind his back. Signed by Glykon.
Archaeological Museum, Naples.
Arachne 3731. Photo: Wikimedia, Marie-Lan Nguyen.The "Farnese Minerva".
Archaeological Museum, Naples.
Arachne 36724. Photo: Wikimedia, Marie-Lan Nguyen.
The "Farnese Flora".
Archaeological Museum, Naples.
Arachne 13301. Photo: Wikimedia, Miguel Hermoso Cuesta.The "Farnese Lar", a Genius.
Archaeological Museum, Naples.
Arachne 55913. Photo: Wikimedia, Marie-Lan Nguyen.The provenance of both the Flora and the Lar has been doubted, because they can be seen on a drawing by Maarten van Heemskerck,
made about ten years before the start of the Farnese excavations (1545-1547).
Achilles and Troilus.
Archaeological Museum, Naples. Arachne 13445. Photos: Wikimedia, Sailko.
Bust of Caracalla.
Archaeological Museum, Naples.
Arachne 56050. Photo: Wikimedia, ho visto nino volare.Bust of Caracalla.
Archaeological Museum, Naples.
Arachne 13578. Photo: Wikimedia, ho visto nino volare.The right portrait must come from the baths, the left one might be an 18th century copy.
Statue of Nike.
Archaeological Museum, Naples.
Photo: Wikimedia, Sailko.Statue of a Maenad.
Museo archeologico regionale di Palermo.
Arachne 14425. Photo: Wikimedia, Giovanni Dall'Orto.
Telamon of Silenus.
Museo Nazionale, Rome.
Photo: Wikimedia, Carole Radato.Head of Marsyas.
Altes Museum, Berlin.
Arachne 105692. Photo: Wikimedia, Carole Radato.
Statue of Venus, part of a fountain.
Museo Nazionale. Rome.
Arachne 16871. Photo: Arachne.Statue of Venus.
Museo Nazionale, Rome.
Arachne 16870. Photo: Arachne.
Portrait of Trajan.
Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen.
Arachne 37146. Photo: Wikimedia, Carole Radato.Head of Apollo.
British Museum, London.
Arachne 10587. Photo: British Museum.
