120 160 roman zeus ammon s sanctuary at the oasis of siwa in the libyan desert was already famous when alexander the great made his pilgrimage there in 331 b c.
The marble head of zeus ammon.
Alexander s visit to siwa was a pivotal moment in the young king s extraordinary life.
The mighty marble head in the liebieghaus probably originated in what is now tunisia.
With deeply drilled thick beard a curling moustache and flowing wavy hair with curving ram s horns at either side of the head the top and back of the head with two drill holes presumably for attachment of a crown now missing 6 in 16 5cm high mounted.
800 000 1 200 000.
Marble head of zeus ammon ca.
A marble head of zeus ammon roman imperial circa a d.
But philotas did not take this news positively curtius 6 9 18.
A marble head of zeus ammon roman imperial circa a d.
This god spanning the different cultures was worshipped especially in the greek colony of cyrenaica on the north african coast but also in sparta and thebes.
Alexander s wish to have his subjects prostrate bow before him was in part motivated by his status as the son of zeus ammon arrian book 4 curtius 8 5 5 6.
According to alexander he told philotas about the oracle s acknowledgement that he was the son of zeus ammon.