This Hellenistic silver statuette depicts Apollo, the Greek god
of music and prophecy. He originally held a lyre in his left
arm; the right hand may have held his lyre's pick. The god
appears with long, wavy hair tied in a knot on the top of his
head and locks escaping down onto his shoulders, a hairstyle
also favored by the goddess Aphrodite. Apollo had always been
represented as young and beautiful in Greek art, but in the
Hellenistic period, his image became much softer and more
effeminate. Statues of the gods in precious metals such as gold
and silver were popular among the wealthy for display in
household shrines. Such statues were also found in temple
treasuries, to which they had been given as elaborate and
expensive gifts to the gods.