---
title: Funerary Bust of a Palmyrene Lady
author: James Blake Wiener
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/7574/funerary-bust-of-a-palmyrene-lady/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Funerary Bust of a Palmyrene Lady

_Authored by [James Blake Wiener](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jbw288/)_

## Image File

[![Funerary Bust of a Palmyrene Lady](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/7574.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/7574.jpg)

## Image Caption

This funerary bust of a Palmyrene lady dates from c. 175-200 CE and is made of limestone. It is originally from Palmyra, [Syria](https://www.worldhistory.org/syria/). (Inscribed in Aramaic: ‘Aqmat, daughter of Hagagu, descendant of Zebida, descendant of Ma'an. Alas!") The inhabitants of the wealthy [city](https://www.worldhistory.org/city/) of Palmyra buried their dead in family or communal tombs containing rows of individual compartments. Each was sealed with a plaque bearing an elaborate and highly realistic portrait of the deceased. Known as "nefesh" ("soul" or "personality"), these portraits enabled the owner to exist in the afterlife.

#### Editorial Review

This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).

## About the Author

James Blake Wiener has a particular interest in cross-cultural exchange and world history. He is a co-founder of World History Encyclopedia and formerly was its Communications Director.
- [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswiener)

## External Links

- [Palmyra | Essay | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History](https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/palm/hd_palm.htm)

## Cite This Work

### APA
Wiener, J. B. (2017, November 08). Funerary Bust of a Palmyrene Lady. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/7574/funerary-bust-of-a-palmyrene-lady/>
### Chicago
Wiener, James Blake. "Funerary Bust of a Palmyrene Lady." *World History Encyclopedia*, November 08, 2017. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/7574/funerary-bust-of-a-palmyrene-lady/>.
### MLA
Wiener, James Blake. "Funerary Bust of a Palmyrene Lady." *World History Encyclopedia*, 08 Nov 2017, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/7574/funerary-bust-of-a-palmyrene-lady/>.

## License & Copyright

Submitted by [James Blake Wiener](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/jbw288/ "User Page: James Blake Wiener"), published on 08 November 2017. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.