Description:

Roman, Imperial Period, ca. 1st to 4th century CE. A pretty pottery medallion, mold-made, in excellent condition. One side is blank, the other is a relief image of a bull's head from face on. The top has been pierced for suspension. The bull was a sacred symbol in ancient Rome, and during the 2nd to 4th centuries, Romans celebrated the taurobolium, when a bull was sacrificed as an offering to ensure the well being of the people and the Roman state. The bull was also involved in the religious cult of the Mithraic mysteries, which spread throughout the Roman Empire (there was even a temple to Mithras whose ruins are still visible today in the City of London). A medallion like this may have been worn by a supplicant to one of these religious practices. Comes with custom stand. Size: 2.1" W (5.3 cm)

Provenance: Ex - Prominent LA County collector who acquired these prior to 2000

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#118263

  • Condition: Excellent

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July 20, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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