Roman oil lamp depicting Athena

Roman oil lamp depicting Athena
ITEM: Oil lamp depicting Athena
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st - 3rd Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 46 mm x 44 mm x 100 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex French private collection, acquired between 1970 - 1990
PARALLEL: DENEAUVE, J., Lampes de Carthage, Pl. LVI, Fig 545 (For type)

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

In Roman mythology and art, Athena was identified with the Greek goddess Minerva, who was a central figure in the Roman pantheon. While Athena originated in Greek mythology as the goddess of wisdom, warfare, and crafts, the Romans adopted her under the name Minerva, making her one of the Capitoline Triad along with Jupiter and Juno. As a patroness of wisdom, learning, and strategic warfare, Minerva became a symbol of Roman virtues, particularly those associated with knowledge and the intellectual elite. While her role in Roman culture shared many similarities with her Greek counterpart, Minerva’s worship was more closely linked to practical aspects of Roman life, such as education, military strategy, and artisanship.

Minerva was celebrated in Roman religion, particularly through the Festival of Minerva on March 19th, which marked the beginning of the Roman year’s agricultural cycle. Roman citizens viewed her as a protector of the state and a goddess who could ensure victory in war through intelligence and strategy rather than mere force. Her temples, particularly in Rome, were sites of public worship and symbolic acts of devotion. Notable temples dedicated to Minerva included the Temple of Minerva in the Capitoline Hill, which was part of the larger Capitoline complex, emphasizing her importance within the Roman religious and political system.

In terms of artistic representation, Roman depictions of Minerva closely resembled her Greek portrayals, often featuring her in full armor, with a helmet, shield, and sometimes holding a spear. Minerva was often depicted with the aegis, a protective cloak associated with both Athena and Zeus in Greek mythology. Statues and coins bearing her image symbolized the ideals of strength and wisdom, which were central to Roman identity. Though Minerva’s mythology did not expand greatly beyond the Greek myths, her role as a symbol of Roman order, intellect, and statecraft continued to influence Roman art, culture, and politics throughout the empire.

Measurement:	4.4 x 4.6 cm
Depth:	10 cm