Opaque blue glass oval engraved gem

1st century BCE

Not on view

The sheperd Faustulus leans on his staff and watches the Roman she-wolf suckle the twins Romulus and Remus under a vine. The bird on the vine is presumably the woodpecker, which, according to legend, helped to feed and watch over the twins.

Artwork Details

Overview

References

Title: Opaque blue glass oval engraved gem
Period: Late Republican
Date: 1st century BCE
Culture: Roman
Medium: Glass, opaque blue paste
Dimensions: Other: 11/16 x 5/8 x 1/8 in. (1.7 x 1.6 x 0.2 cm)
Classification: Gems
Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Object Number: 17.194.37
Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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