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Source Image: PR301_03_14 of Bellerophon panel of Aphrodisias: Sebasteion

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Description

Detail of Sebasteion panel depicting Bellerophon.

Monument
Aphrodisias: Sebasteion 
Monument Part
Bellerophon panel 
Monument Type
Relief 
Material(s)
Aphrodisian marble (Visual identification)  
Date
circa ad 20 - circa ad 60 
Keywords
BodyBellerophonMoulding  
Collections
Aphrodisias, Site and Museum  

Location

Original Location
Aphrodisias 
Current Location
Aphrodisias Museum 

Evidence for working practices

1. Toolmarks

Process
Roughing-out
Tool
Point
Method
Angle: Steep (60-70°)
Force: Gentle
Description
Point chiselling can be seen at the bottom of the panel, on the flat surface on which Bellerophon stands. Around his feet the remains of the roughed-out state in which they were originally carved can still be seen: particularly around his right foot the vestiges of a larger foot are visible. This shows that the whole figure was roughed-out with the point chisel before more detailed shaping began. None of this would have been visible from the ground.

2. Toolmarks

Process
Rough shaping
Tool
Flat Chisel
Method
Angle: Shallow (40-50°)
Force: Medium
Description
The rough shaping of the legs and feet of Bellerophon is done with the flat chisel, apparently directly following point chisel work.

3. Toolmarks

Process
Outlining
Tool
Channelling Tool
Method
Angle: Shallow (40-50°)
Force: Gentle
Description
A channelling tool has been used to outline the legs where they meet the background.

Notes

Bellerophon's feet, as can be seen in this detail, are carved down into the base of the panel. This suggests that the figure was not accurately planned out before carving began and the carver ran out of space for the feet when he reached this area of the panel. This is a detail seen on a number of the Sebasteion panels and indicates that the carvers responsible were not working from carefully measured drawings or models.

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