Man from Alböke
The man from Alböke ( Swedish Albökemannen ) is a bronze bust that was found in the early 20th century while plowing in Haglunda, Alböke Socken north of Borgholm on the Swedish island of Öland .
The circumstances of the find and the exact location of the figure are unknown. The bust was acquired by the State Historical Museum in Stockholm in 1902 and is now in the “gold room” of the permanent exhibition.
description
The small figure is probably a copy of a Roman grave monument, on which the dead were often depicted frontally. This explains the appearance of the Albökeman. People depicted with beards or sideburns are common in the Roman Empire, but rare in Scandinavia during the Germanic Iron Age between 200 and 550 AD. The lines on the body could represent an abstract chain mail. The sculpture bears two faces on its chest, probably representing medals of valor, similar to those worn by soldiers and officers of the Roman army. The Albökemann is not unique. There are a number of statues on Öland that were made in the Roman Empire or in the provinces and depict Roman gods and goddesses, but there are also locally made human and animal figures.
Male figures found in Köping and Långlöt on Öland have the same center parting as the Albökemann. Swedish scholars have interpreted one of them as a Scandinavian imitation of the hero Hercules . The finds show that Öland participated in trade with the continent at that time.
The Albökemann could also be the bust of a real man who served in the Roman army, came back to Öland and, inspired by Roman manners and customs, gave the order to make the small bust for himself.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Den gåtfulle från Alböke (Swedish)
- ↑ Inventory number SHM 11700 (Swedish)