Figurines Data

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ID	132
Images
Grid Ref	TL1307
Project type	Excavation
County	Hertfordshire
Site	St Albans
Site Name	Verulamium
Site Type	Civitas capital
Location Type	Building
Context	Pit (box)
Context Quality	3
Context Date	C4
Object Date	C2-3
Object Period	3
Material	Bronze
Secondary Material	Silvered eyes
Other finds from site	Found in a box
Import	Yes
Place of manufacture	Gaul?
Location	Verulamium Museum
Ref No	SABMS 78.1
M/F	Female
Age	Mature
Form	Figurine
Type	Deity
Name	Venus
Aliases	Aphrodite
Bearded	No
Standing/Seated	Standing
Headgear	Crown of flowers
Attributes	Yes
Attribute description	Apple/pomegranate
Clothed	No
Drapery	Yes
Drapery description	cloak tied around thighs
Condition	Good but slightly worn, especially to left side of face. Thumb on right hand broken and repair to left foot.
Classical	1
Quality	High
Photo	Yes
Illustration	No
Height	200.00
Length	0.00
Prototype	Hellenistic.
Parallels	Bieber 1961, fig 609/10; Menzel 1966, no 80; Kaufmann-Heinimann 1977, no 69
References	Pitts 1979, no 112, pl 20; Toynbee 1964, 84, 1962, no 28; Green 1976, 207; Lindgren 1980, 77-8, pl 41; Frere 1972, 140; Anon 1960, 227 [Link to Bibliography]
Description	A strand of the godess's hair hangs forward, in the normal way, on to either shoulder; whereas the attributes- the crown of fruits (if indeed this is not a bow of hair) and the pomegranate or apple, cupped in leaves, which is clasped in the lowered left hand- are an unusual combination in a Venus type, although they harmonize well enough with the fertility and other-world aspects of her cult that were particularly prominent in Celtic countries. The mannered pose and gestures and the plastic modelling are, however, wholly Hellenistic, and the execution displays no distinctively provincial features (Toynbee). The drapery tied around the hips is knotted in front. Simple yet elegant piece. Expressive well-modelled face, details on hands and feet.