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Gilt-silver ceremonial box lid

late 1st century BCE or later
Not on view
The lid is decorated in high relief with sacrificial animals and religious objects. Featured prominently are the heads of three domestic animals—a ram, a bull, and a goat—that were commonly used as offerings at major public ceremonies. The decoration is unusual, but there is a close parallel in the Berlin Museum.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Gilt-silver ceremonial box lid
  • Period: Early Imperial, Augustan
  • Date: late 1st century BCE or later
  • Culture: Roman
  • Medium: Silver gilt
  • Dimensions: H. 1 in. (2.5 cm)
    width 3 1/4 in. (8.3 cm)
    depth 2 5/8 in. (6.7 cm)
  • Classification: Gold and Silver
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Marguerite and Frank A. Cosgrove Jr. Fund and Mr. and Mrs. Christos G. Bastis Gift, 2000
  • Object Number: 2000.26
  • Curatorial Department: Greek and Roman Art

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