Roman Ephebe from Naples

Youth as a Lamp Bearer, a long-term loan from the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples, is on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Villa.

Created about 20-10 B.C., the Roman bronze figure of a ephebe, or youth, was excavated in 1925 in a well-appointed residence, now called the House of the Ephebe—named for this statue—off Pompeii's Via dell'Abbondanza. Referred to as the Efebo Lampadoforo (Youth as a Lamp Bearer), the figure holds ornate tendrils that served as candelabrum branches.

Like many other pieces found in Pompeii, it is a Roman work in Greek style; the youth is modeled after earlier, Greek sculptures of athletes. Created as an ancient lamp stand, the ephebe still stands on his original base, consisting of a bronze disk and stone tripod.

Photo: Youth as a Lamp Bearer, Roman, from Pompeii, 20–10 B.C. Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei


Text source
Image source


Exhibitions and events

Molten Color: Glassmaking in Antiquity

Permanent exhibition

Over 180 ancient glass objects from the collection of Erwin Oppenländer are featured in this exhibition. The Oppenländer collection, which the Getty acquired in 2003, is remarkable for its cultural...

Activities from this museum

We don't have anything to show you here.


Suggested Content