Bronze statuette of Mars

Roman Britain, 1st-3rd century AD
Found at Fossdyke, Torksey, Lincolnshire (before 1774)

A gift to the Roman god of war

This is a standard representation of the warrior god Mars, in a confident though rather flamboyant style. He probably once held a sword and shield, which would have helped to balance the helmet with its lavish crest.

The object is a votive gift, no doubt to a temple of Mars. This is clearly indicated by an inscription on the bronze pedestal. This gives the names both of those who commissioned the object and the man who made it, all of whom were co-dedicators. The text reads as follows:

'Deo Mart(ti) et Nu(mini)b(us) Aug(ustorum) Colasuni Bruccius et Caratius de suo donarunt
ad sester(tios) n(ummos) c(entum) Celatus aerarius fecit et aeramenti lib(ram) donavit factam (denariis) III'

('To the god Mars and the numen of the Emperors, the Colasuni, Bruccius and Caratius, presented this at their own expense at a cost of 100 sestertii; Celatus the bronzesmith fashioned it and gave a pound of bronze made at the cost of 3 denarii'.)

T.W. Potter, Roman Britain, 2nd edition (London, The British Museum Press, 1997)