THE MUSEUM
White marble mortar
Domestic / ritual element.
Roman mortars like this one were used to prepare sauces and creams for stews. The shape and raw material with which this one is made reveals the affluent social position of its owner.
It might have been used for different activities such as: the consumption of solid and liquid food at ritual banquets or for the storage and preparation of such foodstuffs as well. Since this mortar was made of marble and not clay, it might even have been used during a ritual ceremony in the Mithraic liturgy.
Measurements: Height 7.8 cm; diameter 27 cm.
Author: Celso Rodríguez Cao
Engraved gemstone
This engraving, made in orange carnelian gemstone, has an oval shape and a trapezoidal-shaped section. It would have been part of a non-preserved ring. Both sides are flat, and the edges are cut towards the back part of the ring. On the upper face, the carved decoration represents a biga, or chariot, guided by a winged Victory (the body and head of which can be seen from the side, facing the front) who holds the reins of the horses in the left hand, and a palm branch in the right hand. This type of scene is a motif widely represented in Roman numismatics and glyptics (engraving).
In addition to its usefulness as a personal ornament, we should not rule out other possibilities of it having a symbolic, magical nature, representing status, or an engament announcement.
Chronology: 2nd and 3rd century A.D.
Measurements: length 1.5 cm; width 1.1 cm; thickness 0.2 cm
Author: Celso Rodríguez Cao
Granite altar dedicated to Mithras
Granitic altar dedicated to Mithras, a Persian deity widely worshipped throughout the Roman Empire.
Roman Age
Material: granite
Chronology: circa 212-218 AD
Measurements: height 0.935 m; width 0.363 m; depth 0.235 m.
Registered area 0.635 x 0.315 m
Letters height: 0.004 m
Underlining indicates letter ligature.
Deo / Inuic (to) Mithrae / G (aius) Victorius Vic / torinus (centurio) L (egionis) VII G (emina) / Antonianiae P (iae) F (elicis) / in honorem sta / tionis lucensis / et Victoriorum / Secundi et Vic / toris lib (ertorum) suor / um aram po / suit libenti animo (hedera)
To the undefeated Mithras, Gaius Victorius Victorinus, centurion of Legio VII Gemina Antoniania Pia Felix in honor of the statio at Lucus Augusti and of the Victorius Secundus and Victor, his freedmen, placed this altar willingly.
Author: Celso Rodríguez Cao