Original scientific paper

Some Rare Unpublished Finds from Siscia

Remza Koščević

Abstract

This text is a sequel to publications of metal finds from
a private collection from Sisak and it encompasses some
artifacts that appear rather rare in comparison to the materials
of Siscian origin that have been published up to the
present day.
Along with some utility objects – a candelabrum (T. 4.,
T. 5.), two scale-beams and a chain (T. 2.) – two figural
objects of a rather unusual shape are covered. One represents
a man’s bust – a steelyard-weight (T. 1., 2) and according
to its function it also belongs to utility objects, and
the other is classified as small cult plastic (T. 1, 1, T. 3).
The bust of a non-Roman character in T. 1., 2, Barbarian
in form, according to analogies corresponds to the representations
of the Dacians or Scythians, and considering
the headband as an equivalent of taenia it might represent
a divine figure – the Roman Jupiter.
The statuette in T. 1., 1 relates to an ithyphallic interpretation
of a syncretistic divinity. It represents an iconographic
picture with mixed elements of Silenus, i.e. Sylvan
or Bes, familiar from the existing finds of bronze vessels
and weights. It has no direct analogies to comparative examples,
but of the three aforementioned deities it has
traits which are more connected to the original representations
of the Egyptian Bes. Both beams in T. 2., 1, 2 relate
to the type of symmetric two-sided balance, of which the
former belongs to the version with a sighting tool for precise
measuring. The chain in T. 2., 3 was used either for
hanging a lucerne or for hanging a weight on an asymmetric
one-sided steelyard.
According to the shape of the receptacle and the stick,
the candelabrum in T. 4 and 5 seems to comply with the
more general standards of shaping this form of candlestick,
and according to its base shape it corresponds with
the version of a three-footed candelabrum with a plateshaped
base. There are no related, comprehensively comparable
examples because of the unusual shape of the feet
on which the base is placed. Particularly the feet – which
also have a terriomorphous upper part – are the distinctive
detail, making the base an originally designed example.
The published finds cannot be precisely chronologically
classified within the broad framework of the Roman
period.

Keywords

Roman period; Siscia; cult plastic; scale; weight; candelabrum

Hrčak ID:

807

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/807

Publication date:

20.7.2002.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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