Silvanus

Silvanus, the Roman god of the countryside and fertility, was initially the spirit of the unclaimed woodland. Then, as clearings pushed back, he became the god of woodland pastures, villas, parks, and gardens. Additionally, he was the protector of herds and cattle. While he never had a temple or state cult, he was privately worshipped through rituals in sacred spaces such as in groves or around trees.

Our Statue of Silvanus is on loan from the Canadian Museum of History. It is dated back to the 2nd century CE and was found in Italy.

Although missing its head, the statue can be identified thanks to its attributes, which are typical to Silvanus, such as the goatskin cloak and the fruits of the earth. The statue’s back is simplistic, indicating that it would have been placed against a wall and meant to be seen from the front. Moreover, the weathered surface of the sculpture hints that it may have been on display outdoors, such as in a garden.