One of the nicknames given to Alexander the Great was Helios, the sun king. This portrait has Alexander’s characteristic wild, thick hair, but partially tied back with a band around his head. There are holes in the band where a metal radiate crown would have been attached, hence the name of this piece.

The original is believed to date from at least a century after Alexander’s death in 323 BC.

Roman copy of a larger than life Hellenistic head.

Roman copy of a larger-than-life Hellenistic head.