Hellenistic Alabaster Wheat-Bearer Statue

• Hellenistic - The Hellenistic period is a period in ancient Greek history
  
  that began after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BCE and lasted until
  
  the Roman conquest of Greece in 146 BCE. It is named after the Greek word
  
  "Hellenistic," which means "to imitate Greeks."
  
  
  During the Hellenistic period, the Greek world expanded
  
  beyond the boundaries of Greece and encompassed the territories conquered by
  
  Alexander the Great, including Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. The period
  
  was marked by a fusion of Greek culture with the cultures of these conquered
  
  territories, resulting in a diverse and cosmopolitan society.
  
  
  The art and architecture of the Hellenistic period were
  
  marked by a new sense of realism and individuality. Artists and architects
  
  experimented with new techniques and styles, and the incorporation of new
  
  materials such as bronze and glass. A number of the best-known works of Greek sculpture belong to this period, including Laocoon and his Sons, Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

• Alabaster - Alabaster is soft natural stone used for statuary, with a similar appearance to marble, but easier to work with. As it is softer than marble, an item made from alabaster can be scratched with a metal object, and an alabaster item does not polish to a high surface gloss like marble.
  
  Alabaster objects can be semi-translucent. Alabaster occurs in a pure white form and also with veining from dirt. Colours vary from white through yellow and pink to brown. The veining is usually green or black but can be multicoloured.
  
  Being semi-translucent, alabaster is often used for the bowls of figural lamps, with the figure itself being either alabaster or marble.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• sculpture - figures/groups, other sculptors 2,762