Original scientific paper
Dii inter homines. Copper-alloy figurines from the roman-period collection of the Archaeological museum of Istria
Alka Starac
orcid.org/0000-0002-8254-0849
; Arheološki muzej Istre, Carrarina 3, HR-52100 Pula
Abstract
This paper analyzes 19 copper-alloy figurines from the Roman period and three modern-age imitations from the Roman Period Collection of the Archaeological Museum of Istria. The figurines are grouped by topic and by purpose. Most of them had the single purpose of a physical representation of a deity, divine attribute or ritual and, as such, were used for cults. At least, it is not possible to establish if they were also used for everyday purposes. For every single deity, the origin and regional distribution of a particular model, the symbolism of the attributes and possible chronological placement in the historical context are analyzed. A separate group includes a few figurines which are undoubtedly the remaining parts of what were once objects of everyday use. The third group of the figurines includes fragments the contents and purpose of which cannot be identified. And finally, some modern-age imitations of the Roman-period figurines are also analyzed.
Keywords
Cupid; Bacchus; copper alloy; boxer; figurine; Hercules; Istria; Isis Fortuna; Mercury; Minerva; Venus, Victoria
Hrčak ID:
342082
URI
Publication date:
22.12.2025.
Visits: 535 *