A ‘Small-Size Statue’ of Hephaistos from Olympos (Lykia)

Abstract

Hephaistos is known not to be as popular as the other ‘Olympian Gods’ in Greco-Roman Art. But the ‘small-size statue’ of Hephaistos, found during the excavations undertaken in Olympos in Lykia should not be surprising because Hephaistos is ‘at home’ in ‘Yanartaş’, located approximately 5 kilometers North of Olympos. Especially being represented rarely in statuary the ‘small size statue’ of Hephaistos from Olympos attracts the attention with its uniqueness amongst other representations of him: Instead of his widespread depiction wearing an exomis, carrying a pilos on his head and holding a pincer and a hammer in his hands we see him wearing a himation and holding an axe and a shield in his hands whilst ‘working’. In this article the depictions of Hephaistos will be traced on various archaeological material such as coins, ceramics, reliefs, bronze statuettes for an iconographic and typological analysis. In this frame it will be underlined that Hephaistos continuing to exist under the name Vulcanus in the Roman Period gains importance in the western provinces and offers rich comparison material through many bronze statuettes and reliefs. Finally the ‘small-size statue’ of Hephaistos will be studied stylistically and will be dated. The seated posture and garment of Hephaistos recalls Zeus and therefore a possible relation to Zeus will also be examined. Furthermore suggestions for a ‘in situ’ location of Hephaistos will be undertaken in accordance with a spolio construction-inscription bearing the word Hephaistos which was found during the excavation, close to the findspot of the ‘small size statue’ of Hephaistos.