The Trade in Small-Size Statues in the Roman Mediterranean: a Case Study from Alexandria

A group of sculptures found in the eastern suburbs of Alexandria, Egypt, allows us to analyse the production, trade and display of statuary in domestic contexts. This collection is composed of 13 statues and statuettes. Eight of these are reduced in size, belonging to the well-attested types of mythological statuettes which decorated Late Antique domus and villas. Two female portrait sculptures can be associated with the owner’s family and, finally, three objects – which are the only ones not made of white marble – consist of a table stand, a sphinx, and a small statuette of Isis. The analysis of marbles in relation to sculptural technique allows the identification of two groups and two different production processes and trade patterns. Nevertheless, their archaeological context reveals that these artefacts were part of a single assemblage and decorative programme