The original piece, currently preserved at the Huesca Museum, was found in the area of what is now López Allué Square and dates from between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD. Carved from beige sandstone, it depicts a male face, although it has also been interpreted as possibly representing a gorgon, a creature from classical mythology.
What makes this sculpture particularly unusual, however, is its mouth. It features an opening through which water is believed to have flowed, leading researchers to conclude that it may have formed part of an Iberian-Roman fountain. This is why the piece has come to be known as the Mouth of Truth.
A 120-KILOGRAM REPLICA CREATED WITH 3D TECHNOLOGY
The reproduction to be installed in Huesca is approximately 60 centimetres wide, 49 centimetres high and 27 centimetres deep, and weighs 120 kilograms. It will be placed on a 1.30-metre-high concrete pedestal, allowing passers-by to view the details of this unique historical piece up close.
To create a faithful replica of the original, the project used 3D scanning and printing techniques. These were used to produce a silicone mould, which made it possible to reproduce the sculpture in cement while preserving the characteristics of the piece held in the museum.
The initiative arose from a proposal by the Osce Biella association, which suggested to the Citizens' Council the possibility of bringing a reproduction of the Mouth of Truth to a public space in Huesca. The aim is to bring one of the city's Iberian-Roman relics closer to residents and visitors without having to move the original piece.
The total cost of the project amounts to 11,591.30 euros, an investment that will allow this peculiar stone head to return to Huesca's urban landscape, while the original sculpture remains protected at the Huesca Museum.
