TheTownley Caryatid is a 2.25m highPentelic marblecaryatid, depicting a woman dressed to take part in religious rites (possibly fertility rites related toDemeter orCeres, due to the cereal motifs on hermodius headdress).
It dates to the Roman era, between 140 and 160 AD, and is in theNeo Attic style adapted from 5th century BC Athenian workmanship. It is one of a group of five surviving caryatids found on the same site, arranged to form a colonnade in a religious sanctuary built on land fronting on theVia Appia owned byRegilla, wife of the Greek magnate and philosopherHerodes Atticus. This sanctuary was probably dedicated to Demeter. A fragmentary caryatid from the series, now in theVilla Albani, Rome, is signed by the otherwise unknown Athenian sculptors Kriton and Nikolaos.
It was acquired with other purchases from theVilla Montalto in 1787[1] byCharles Townley, who bequeathed it to theBritish Museum in 1805, where its catalogue number is 1805, 0703 44. It was until recently in Gallery 84, but is now on the Main Stairs, replacing Townley'sDiscobolus.
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