Lot 47A
Roman, Imperial period, ca. 1st to 3rd century CE. A pair of boldly modeled Roman bronze phallic ornaments, each cast in the unmistakable form of a male member with pronounced testicles and a suspension loop, once intended for stringing, affixing, or display. One is rendered with a long, slightly curved shaft and well-defined anatomical features, while the other is more compact but equally assertive in its design. These apotropaic amulets, known in Latin as fascina, were believed to ward off evil and misfortune through the power of obscenity and divine virility. The looped design suggests these pieces were worn or mounted - perhaps on a necklace, bracelet, military gear, chariot, or domestic threshold - as protective charms. Such amulets were widespread in Roman life and often carried by soldiers, children, and travelers, invoking the watchful gaze of Priapus, the god of fertility and guardianship. Size of largest: 2.625" L x .875" W (6.7 cm x 2.2 cm)
Provenance: private Dayton, Maryland, USA collection; ex-private F. B. collection, Maryland, USA, acquired between 1990 to 2010
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#195853
- Condition: Both intact and excellent and dare I say, wearable.
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