Ancient depictions: coins and graffiti

C01 - Coin of Antoninus Pius, with depictions of a grain measure, Annona (personification of the food supply) holding a tessera frumentaria and a rudder, and the lighthouse. Text: ANNONA AVG FELIX SC.
The lighthouse has four storeys, including the cylinder. Lines on the first three storeys suggest the use of large blocks of stone. The first storey is the highest one.

Photo: British Museum.

C02 - Coin of Commodus, with depictions of ships (one with Jupiter Serapis), two men sacrificing (one of which is the Emperor), and the lighthouse. Text: VOTIS FELICIBVS.
The lighthouse seems to have four storeys, including the cylinder. Another specimen has lines on the first storey, suggesting the use of large blocks of stone.

G01 - Graffito from the Terme Marittime (III,VIII,2).
A simple drawing of the lighthouse with three storeys, including the cylinder. The first storey is lower than the second one.

Photo: ICCD N014872.

G02 - Graffito from the House of the Muses (III,IX,22).
A simple drawing of the lighthouse with three storeys, including the cylinder. The first storey is the highest one.

Photo: Robert Harp.

G03 - Graffito from the House of the Muses (III,IX,22).
A drawing of a lighthouse with three storeys that are very high and slender. There is a window in the centre of each storey. There may be a few lines to indicate the fire. Probably the lighthouse of Alexandria. Top left the number CXXV.

Photo: Robert Harp.

G04 - Graffito from the House of the Muses (III,IX,22), lighthouse to the left of Trajan's column.
A simple drawing of the lighthouse with three storeys, including the cylinder. There seem to be windows in the centre of the first and second storey. The first storey is the highest one.

Photo: ICCD N005281.

Intaglio. British Museum, inv. nr. 1859,0301.156. Provenance unknown.
Finally we can mention an intaglio in the British Museum. It may depict the basin of Claudius. To the left is a mole, to the right a lighthouse. In the harbour are two one-masted ships, a sailing-boat, and a fishing-boat in which a man is fishing.

Photo: British Museum.