Heichelheim,
no. 13
Egger,
1932, 312, fig. 4
Espérandieu,
no 5806
Reinach,
2
JOAI
fig. 15
Bulle,
154
Kerenyi,
4
Hooded Statuette of MoulezanMoulezanunknown dateStone of Lens28cmMusée des antiques de Nîmes
| In 1884, this stone statue
of a hooded figure was found in two pieces in Moulezan, near Nîmes.
Short, identical curls descend from beneath a short, pointed hood pulled
over an oval face. The almond shaped eyes are carved at slight angles
to the straight rectangular nose. Down-turned lips appear from beneath
a lightly carved beard. The cloak fastens just below the thick neck of
the figure. There is a rectangular line that suggests the closing
of the cloak and two horizontal lines to suggest the clasps of the cloak.
Two feet with clumsily hatched marks indicating toes appear from beneath
the ankle-length cloak. The cloak leaves a triangular shaped opening
above the feet. Espérandieu states this work is undoubtedly
of local manufacture and is also the only stone image of Telesphorus that
had been found in Gaul at the time he published the image in 1907.
However, Heichelheim believes the statue should be considered to belong
to the cult of the genius cucullatus. In spite of the lack
of resolution Deonna provides on the identification of this object, he
gives the most complete consideration of the potentially distinguishing
factors for these two deities which may be used to analyze the piece(67).
Although this figure does not show the youth of the god-child Telesphorus,
if the lines on his feet mark toes, the figure has the requisite bare feet
of Telesphorus. On the other hand, the physiognomy is decidedly
Celtic and in particular resembles those on the Carlisle
cucullati. Using Reinach’s theory on the Celtic acceptance
of the Greco-Roman Telesphorus
this may prove to be an example of the Celtic assimilation of Telesphorus
into a genius cucullatus.
Heichelheim,
no. 13
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