Collection online

tablet / pendant / case

• Object type

  • tablet
  • pendant
  • case

• Museum number

  1843,0724.3

• Description

  Gold tablet with an Orphic inscription and the pendant case that contained it. The inscription warns the soul not to drink from a particular spring in Hades, but to seek one by the Lake of Memory, where, after drinking, it shall be equal with other souls.

• Culture/period

  • Roman Imperial (case)
  • Greek (tablet)

• Date

  • 2ndC-3rdC (case)
  • 3rdC BC-2ndC BC (tablet)

• Findspot

  • Excavated/Findspot: Petelia
  • (Europe,Italy,Calabria,Catanzaro,Strongoli,Petelia)

• Materials

  • gold

• Dimensions

  • Length: 27.9 centimetres (chain)
  • Length: 3.5 centimetres (case)
  • Length: 4.5 centimetres (tablet)
  • Weight: 182.2 grains (total)

• Inscriptions

  • • Inscription Type

      inscription

• Bibliography

  • Jewellery 3155

• Location

  On display: G69/dc2

• Exhibition history

  Exhibited:

  2005 11 Apr-10 Jul, Seoul Arts Centre, Treasures of the World's Cultures
  2005 25 Jul-8 Oct, Busan Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
  2005 27 Oct-2006 31 Jan, Haengso Museum, Keimyung University, Daegu, Treasures of the World's Cultures
  2006 18 Mar-4 Jun, Beijing, Capital Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
  2007 3 Feb-27 May, Taipei, National Palace Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
  2007 14 Sep-2 Dec, Hong Kong Museum of Art, Treasures of the World's Cultures
  2009 1 May-20 Sep, Victoria, Royal BC Museum, Treasures of the World's Cultures
  2009 11 Dec-2010 10 May, Madrid, Canal de Isabel II, Treasures of the World's Cultures

• Acquisition name

  • Purchased from: James Millingen

• Acquisition date

  1843

• Department

  Greek & Roman Antiquities

• Registration number

  1843,0724.3