Posted on 11/09/2014 2:36:20 PM PST by SunkenCiv
While the treasure – consisting of about 90 silver objects weighing more than 50 pounds – was first discovered in 1830, it was not until 1861 and again in 1896 that the site was extensively surveyed and excavated, uncovering the foundations of a Gallo-Roman fanum, a square colonnaded precinct with two temples. One was dedicated to Mercury Canetonensis (of Canetonum), while the other was devoted to his mother Maia or his consort Rosmerta. A theater-shaped gathering space was also found nearby...
The most impressive objects in the Berthouville Treasure bear Latin inscriptions stating that they were dedicated to Mercury by a Roman citizen named Quintus Domitius Tutus. Several of the vessels, profusely ornamented in high relief and then gilded, are recognized today as among the finest ancient Roman silver to survive. The elaborately decorated imagery of Tutus’s offerings, except for one ladle that was manufactured specifically for Mercury, feature Bacchic motifs and mythological scenes that are more appropriate to luxurious dining than religious observance...
The four missoria, on view in the final section of the exhibition, were luxury objects in Late Antiquity. They were primarily intended to display the wealth, status, and cultural aspirations of their owners. The two largest platters are the famed “Shield of Scipio” (found in the Rhone near Avignon in 1636) and “Shield of Hannibal” (found in the Alps in 1714). The shape, scale, and imagery of these two platters led early scholars to erroneously identify them as votive shields of historical generals – the Roman Scipio Africanus and his rival, the Carthaginian Hannibal...
After its presentation at the Getty Villa, the exhibition will travel to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, before returning to France.
(Excerpt) Read more at popular-archaeology.com ...
(Getty Museum graphics, just to be on the safe side, I won't post them, but they are worth looking at)
Ancient Luxury and the Roman Silver Treasure from Berthouville
Date: Daily November 19, 2014 - August 17, 2015,
Location: Museum, Floor 2, Getty Villa
http://www.getty.edu/visit/cal/events/19079.html
The Making of a Roman Silver Cup
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrMVA8F-fiY
Beautiful!
Thanks for that video. I wonder how long it took to make a cup like that.
Amazing they could do that 2000 years ago.
It represents a fortune from that time, as well. I wish it were coming a little closer to home, I’d love to see it.
They probably had a great deal of experience, but they’d have been more likely to do a lot of their work with less expensive metals. They’re masterpieces though.
Thanks for the link. Most fascinating.
Exhibit is on now at the Palace of Legion of Honor in San Francisco.
http://legionofhonor.famsf.org/exhibitions/ancient-luxury-and-roman-silver-treasure-berthouville. I’ll take the family at Christmas. Thanks!
I’d love to see this exhibit. Boston is not that close, but it would be the closest for us. However, I could not find a date for when this exhibit will be there. :( It’s not even mentioned yet on the website of the Museum of Fine Arts.
That list looked pretty long, probably won’t be for a year or more. By that time, I may be able to go there too, I love the MFA! Probably because of all that Old Kingdom statuary they’ve got, it used to be facing the door of the Egyptian gallery. And the rest of their ancient collection is pretty decent.
They’re awesome
You should buy them for my Christmas present...
...probably won’t be for a year or more....
(((
That’s what I was thinking since the exhibit will be at the Getty through August 17.
I have been to Boston only once, and I have not been to any museums there.
They seem to have a few traveling exhibits, including one about the Etruscans (probably will web search that see if the location turns up), and they have a current exhibit on the treasures of Nubia which looks interesting.
The craftsmanship on those items is increadible!
Both Getty Museums are fascinating places.
What?
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