stela
- Museum number
- 125176
- Description
-
Limestone stela with relief in 3 registers. Above is a reclining bearded male figure (Saturn), weight on his left elbow, hand at his head, the other arm lying along his side. He wears a skirt which leaves the torso bare. The face is crudely but carefully carved with holes for the eye pupils; hair and beard are dressed in short curls and a veil covers his head and comes down to the shoulders. Behind him, two male figures in military dress hold horses whose front hooves rest on pedestals (the Dioscuri). The centre register depicts a man and woman on either side of an altar. The man wears a tunic and toga, the woman a full tunic and mantle with decorated upper edge. The man places a round offering on the altar and holds in his left hand a casket with a gabled lid. The woman holds a cylindrical box or offering in both hands. The bottom register depicts a man in chlamys leading a bull to the altar. On the right of the altar another figure holds on his head a large basket with a gabled lid. There are drilled holes around the border and in the field, for metal or textile insertions.
- Production date
- 3rdC (circa)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 94 centimetres
-
Width: 51 centimetres
-
Depth: 13.50 centimetres
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Fair.
- Acquisition date
- 1850
- Acquisition notes
- There is some confusion over the role of Mr. Doubleday in the acquisition process as according to the register this collection was purchased through him in Tunis and according to the record card for this object it was bought off him. Some other details have been obtained through the Greek and Roman registers for this collection.
- Department
- Middle East
- BM/Big number
- 125176
- Registration number
- 1850,0304.41
- Additional IDs
-
Miscellaneous number: 532 (Reade collection number)
