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LOT 0812
Roman Terracotta Oil Lamp with Cybele Riding a Lion
2ND-3RD CENTURY A.D.
4 3/4 in. (172 grams, 12 cm).
Lug handle to the rear, shallow discus with filling holes and a low-relief image of goddess Cybele riding on her frequent companion, a lion.
ProvenanceAcquired on the European art market, 1980s.
English private collection.
See The Getty Museum, inv.no.83.AK.438.418, for similar in Bussière, J., Lindros Wohl, B., Ancient Lamps in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Malibu, 2017, no.358, p.252, type Loeschcke VIII; Bussière form D IX.
FootnotesThis lamp belongs to the group of Provincial African lamps with a plain shoulder and a heart-shaped nozzle. The shoulder form of the lamps (irrespective of African, Italic, or eastern place of manufacture or origin) varies widely. Some of them had undecorated shoulders, like our example. Discus decors include mythology, amphitheatre, daily life, animals (our example), geometric patterns and plain discus.
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Roman Bronze Statuette Head of Mercury
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Wearing a broad-brimmed petasos with wings above, curls of hair beneath, youthful features. 41 grams, 31 mm
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Mercury was the god of trade and industry, whose principle shrine in the city of Rome was at the Circus Maximus. Originally he was one of the gods of riches and profit and it was not until he was equated with the Greek Hermes that he became the god of tradesmen and merchants. He was also the god of thieves and was associated with healing mainly in Gaul where he had a number of important temples connected to sacred springs.
