Figurines Data

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ID	55
Images
Grid Ref	TL1306
Project type	Excavation
County	Hertfordshire
Site	St Albans
Site Name	King Harry Lane
Site Type	Civitas capital
Location Type	Cemetery
Context	Ditch
Context Quality	3
Site Date	C2-3
Object Date	C2?
Object Period	2
Material	Bronze
Other finds from site	Apollo (1006), stone altar (see Niblett)
Import	Yes
Location	Verulamium Museum
Ref No	SABMS 78.2
M/F	Male
Age	Youth
Form	Figurine
Type	Deity
Name	Mercury
Bearded	No
Standing/Seated	Standing
Other	Silver torc
Attributes	Yes
Attribute description	Purse, missing caduceus, ram, cockerel, tortoise
Clothed	No
Drapery	Yes
Drapery description	Chlamys over shoulder and left arm
Condition	Good
Classical	1
Quality	Classical 2
Photo	Yes
Illustration	No
Height	82.00
Length	0.00
Parallels	Boucher 1973, no 136; Faider-Feytmans 1957, no 29; Reinach 1931, no 50; Kaufmann-Heinimann 1977, no 155
References	Pitts 1979, no 39; Green 1976, 207; Wilson 1972, 330; Lindgren 1980, 58-9, no 19; Niblett 2005, 94 [Link to Bibliography]
Description	Excavated on a site outside the Silchester Gate. Stands on a pedestal base. Mercury stands, looking to the right, with weight on the right leg, drapery over the left shoulder and forearm. Right arm at his side holds a purse. Left hand is circled, presumably to hold a caduceus. Well modelled. Accompanied by cockerel, lamb and tortoise. The lamb and the cockerel stand on small flat bases. Animals also well modelled with nice details of feathers or wool. The tortoise is rather odd, with long tail and head held high, more like a bird, as if the artist was unfamiliar with the creature. Shell cross-hatched. No ankle wings or petasos on Mercury.