Figurines Data

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ID	856
Images	No image in database
Grid Ref	TM2644
Project type	Metal detector
County	Suffolk
Site	Waldringfield
Site Name	Martlesham
Site Type	Unknown
Location Type	Unknown
Context	Unknown
Context Quality	1
Object Date	C2
Object Period	2
Material	Bronze
Location	Returned to finder
Ref No	ESS-B4CEF5
M/F	Male
Age	Mature
Form	Attachment
Type	Deity
Name	Hercules
Bearded	Yes
Standing/Seated	Standing
Headgear	Cap?
Attributes	Yes
Attribute description	Club, lionskin
Clothed	No
Drapery	Yes
Drapery description	Lionskin
Condition	Missing left foot, right leg below knee, hands
Classical	1
Quality	Stylised
Photo	No
Illustration	Yes
Height	81.00
Length	0.00
References	Martin et al. 2007, 363, fig. 102 F; Worrell 2007, 325, fig. 22 [Link to Bibliography]
Description	(SAU WLD 062) An incomplete, cast copper alloy Roman figurine. This figurine takes the form of a classical nude male. The figure is standing and is truncated just above the ankle to the left leg and above the knee on the right. Both arms are truncated at the wrist but it is clear that the raised right hand is holding a club with a lion skin draped over the lowered left forearm, identifying this male figure as Hercules. The head of the figure is shown with moulded hairstyle that is more or less a band running around the brow and back of the skull, with grooved lines to indicate the locks. The very back of the skull is plain, as if Hercules is wearing a form of plain cap, though this may just be the stylistic quality of the hair. The face is bearded, covering a thick neck. The brow and cheekbones are raised and rounded and the raised nose is now missing, leaving a triangular scar. The mouth is a simple horizontal incised line whilst the eyes are shallow lentoid depressions with a raised domed iris with a small dot for the pupil. The left eye is obscured by damage. The ears are not visible. The torso of the figure is realistically moulded with raised pectorals (now missing due to damage) and clearly defined abdominal muscles. There is no evidence for a belly button, though this may be obscured by damage. The leg and arm muscles are similarly realistically rendered. The penis was once visible but is now truncated, only the base surviving. The reverse of the figure, apart from the back of the head, is entirely flat. This indicates that the figure was not placed on a pedestal, but is more likely to have been applied (probably with solder) to another object, such as a casket or piece of furniture. In effect it is a relief moulding, though in exceptionally high relief and in great detail. The figure is abraded. Patches of the original surface survive with a mid green patina, otherwise exposed surfaces are lighter green or bright green with corrosion. The reverse is particularly pitted and abraded. Break edges are worn, suggesting damage occurred in antiquity. The figure is 81.02mm long, 18.48mm wide at the waist, 50.38mm wide including the arms, 14.1mm thick at the torso. Hercules (the Romanised version of Herakles) was the mortal son of Zeus and famous for his legendary twelve labours. The lion skin is associated with his first labour and the club was one of his weapons of choice. Hercules. obvious mortal strength and divine status made him attractive to Roman soldiers who saw him as an example of prowess and self .discipline. He was also a bringer of victory, an obvious attribute for soldiers to worship (Henig 1984, 93). In .Roman bronze figures of the Catuvellauni and Trinovantes. (1979, BAR 69, page 29), Lynn Pitts explains that Hercules figurines were popular in both the towns and countryside of Roman Britain, suggesting that the god had a much broader appeal beyond the army. Pitts also makes an interesting observation that many Hercules figurines were probably produced in local workshops, with Colchester suggested as a large centre of production (page 29). Many of the locally produced figures are crude (see figure 16) and often had poor facial and body features and native influences such as a .Celtic. cap of hair. It is interesting that the figure recorded here is so realistically portrayed, yet with this odd .cap-like. hair and it may be that it is a particularly good rendering by a local craftsperson that included this native idiosyncratic attribute. Dr Martin Henig kindly suggested that the figure was 2nd century in date (PAS).
PAS id	ESS-B4CEF5