Gallery
“Berenice" (the star-gazer)
Height 122 x W 20 x D 22 cm
weight (bronze) 11.7kg
original made from clay and plaster
stone-resin edition of 25 (sold out)
bronze edition of 9:
“Coma Berenice” (which means ‘Berenice’s Hair) is a constellation named after Queen Berenice 2nd of Egypt.
In 243 BC, Ptolemy undertook a dangerous expedition to avenge the murder of his sister. His new bride, Berenice, swore to the goddess Aphrodite to sacrifice her long hair, of which she was extremely proud, if her husband returned safely. He did, so she cut her hair and placed it in the goddess's temple. By the next morning the hair had disappeared. To appease the furious king, the court astronomer announced that the offering had so pleased the goddess that she had placed it in the sky. He indicated a cluster of stars that have since been called Berenice's Hair.
Ref: O2