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Introduction The mosaic in room 1 The mosaic in room 40 The finds from room 40 Some other finds |
In room 40 a large quantity of bronze objects emerged in a layer resulting from the fire. The contents of a wooden domestic shrine could be identified. The position of the shrine, just to the left of the apse, can be deduced from the precise place of discovery of the objects.
Plan of the room with the place of discovery of the objects. Agustoni 2010, 13.
To the shrine belonged first of all statuettes of animals, some related to Mercurius: a goat, a bear, a rooster, a tortoise, and a bull with three horns. Furthermore statuettes of deities were found, originally between 8 and 16 centimeters high, damaged by the fire: Mercurius with the petasus on his head and holding a money pouch, a naked Apollo, Diana (or a winged Victoria?), Harpocrates bringing his right index finger to his mouth and holding a cornucopiae, Hercules holding the Apples of the Hesperides, an armoured Mars, Isis with a grain measure (modius) and a solar disk between two horns on her head, Diana with a quiver on her back, another Mercurius, and perhaps Fortuna. Some loose fragments, broken off from statuettes, were also found: the zither of Apollo, a cornucopiae, a torch, part of a wing, a globe, and an antler with five horns.
Statuettes from the shrine, after restoration. Photo: Agustoni-Monnier-Buchiller 2010, 62.
Top row: goat, bear, Mercurius, Apollo, Diana (or Victoria?), rooster, tortoise, Harpocrates. Bottom row: Hercules, Mars, Isis, Diana, Mercurius.Among the other bronze objects are ten hinges, found on the spot of the dining couches (or cupboards) and apparently belonging to these. A krater was dedicated by a certain Paterna to Celtic goddesses called Suleviae. Fragments of a candelabrum and several terracotta and bronze oil lamps emerged, one bronze lamp with the head of a Maenad or Bacchus. Some coins are from the reigns of Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Commodus, and Alexander Severus.
[---]R(ia?) PATERNA SVLE(v)I[s ---] [---] Paterna (dedicated) to the Suleviae [---] The bronze krater dedicated by Paterna. H. 0.106.
Kolb et al. 2022, nr. 135. Photo: EDCS-28900042.
The bronze lamp with the head of a Maenad or Bacchus (w. 0.129, h. 0.086). Photo: Gardiol-Rebetez-Saby 1990, Fig. 10.
Reconstruction drawing of the room. Agustoni-Monnier-Buchiller 2010, 61.
Introduction
The mosaic in room 1
The mosaic in room 40
The finds from room 40
Some other finds
[16-Nov-2023]
