ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT FEATURING JUPITER AMMON White marble, traces of calcine and limestone concretions H. 27 x W. 32 cm Imperial Roman art, 2nd century Provenance Galerie Chenel, Paris Private collection in the South of France, acquired from Galerie Chenel A significant fragment carved in high relief depicting a bearded male head, viewed from the front, with powerful features. The mature face, with a furrowed brow, is framed by a full head of hair and a thick beard, rendered through deep chiselling that produces striking chiaroscuro effects. On either side of the temples extend two large, ringed ram’s horns, coiled in a spiral around the ears — a characteristic attribute of Zeus-Ammon (Jupiter Ammon), a syncretic deity combining Zeus with the Egyptian god Amun. The block, trapezoidal in shape and surmounted by a moulded plinth, suggests an architectural use: the mask of Ammon, an apotropaic and solar motif, frequently adorned keystones, corbels, altars and friezes in imperial architecture. For similar examples, see - Museo Archeologico Nazionale Antiquarium Turritano (fig. 1) - Part of the altar dedicated to Jupiter Ammon, Museo Archeologico dell’Istria in Pola, Inv. No. A 391, fig. 2