Fitz Jenő (szerk.): A Pannonia Konferenciák aktái IV. Bronzes Romains figurés et appliqués et leurs problemes techniques - István Király Múzeum közelményei. A. sorozat 27. A Pannon konferenciák aktái 4. (Székesfehérvár, 1984)

D. Gáspár: A Roman die?

Alba Regia, XXI, 1984

D. Gáspár A ROMAN DIE?

At the beginning of the century an interesting bronze object came to light in the course of earthworks in Esztergom — the ancient Solva — which I should like to present here.

The find is kept in Esztergom, Balassa Bálint Múzeum (Inv.nr. 66.2.1.) The measures are: 6x4,9x0,8 cm. It was acquired by the museum through purchase. There was no real possibility of an excavation on this site, there are, therefore, only few finds known from this area: these are partly of Celtic or Roman origin and partly Medieval objects.

The find was originally published by István Járdányi — Paulovics, (1935, 90—91, Fig. 71) who, because of the great number of casket mounts found in Pannonia, identified it as a die. Aladár Radnóti was inclined to hold it for a mould, adding that ”it might have been served also for the production of lead ex-votos, though the representation is doubtlessly very near to the figures of deities on Pannonian casket mounts” (Radnóti 1955, 181).

The hesitating remark of Radnóti has been forgotten, the object passed into the literature as ’’the Esztergom die”.

But is it a die or is it rather a mould ?

The object represents the goddess Fortuna, standing in a frame which consists of a beaded border each on the top and at the botton and two pine-like motives on both sides Pl. XLIII, 4. On the right of the object there is a frieze of dots-and-circles, the other faces are unworked (PI. XLIII, 2 The negative pattern is rather roughly finished, the outlines blurred, the surface outside of the pattern rough, incomplete (PI. XLIII, 3). On the modern bronze impression made with the aid of the object!1) the deficiencies of the ’’die” — the rough surface and the vaguely drawn representation — are even more evident (PI. XLIII, 1).

No bronze casket mount of the Roman period shows such a — so to say — untidiness, their surface is clear and smooth. The outlines of the figures are, if not worn, well(1) Made by the students of the Academy of Applied Arts.

marked, on the reverse of the plates even so sharp that the plate shows crackings along these lines. (I have to remark here that the plate thickness of the modern copy is equal to those of the ancient casket mounts.)

In Kingscote, Great Britain, a bronze cube or better cuboid(2) with a representation on each of its six faces came to light(3) in 1976, in the course of the excavition of a Roman building. The representations are cut in intaglio and except for the hunting scene they are surrounded by a circular beaded border.

According to Hassall and Tomlin the cube was used as a die or seal. On the drawing we cannot detect an unevenness of the surface. The drawing of the figures is distinct, the outlines contoured. As I have not seen the object in the original, I can judge only on the strength of the drawing: in my opinion this object was suitable for chasing bronze plates; its smallmeasure does not contradict a use as a die. Similar representations occur also on casket mounts. Comparing it with the ’’Esztergom die” the differences in the finishing are obviouse. If we exclude the possibility that the so-colled Esztergom die is a fake, then we must be able to find a Roman object type which is related to it.

Let us now return to the hypothesis of Radnóti mentioned in the introduction of this lecture. The hypothesis of A. Radnóti concerns lead ex-votos.

The use of lead and the beliefs connected with it were dealt with by Jenő Fitz when introducing to the catalogue of Intercisa objects: (1957, 383—387) the Pannonia lead votives were collected and published by Edit Thomas (1952, 23—38, Pis. IV—VI). Mrs. Thomas divided the lead ex-votos from a formal point of view to three

(2) Frere—Hassall—Tomlin 1977, 413—414: The Chessalls, Kingscote, Fig. 26, p. 440: ’’Bronz cube or strictly, cuboid top and bottom faces 19 by 19 mm, other faces 19 by 16 mm.

(3) Ibid., 441 : a. Bust of Sol radiate facing right, surrounded by the retrograde legend: Invictvs Sol; b. Roma sealed; c. Sol in quadriga; d. Clasped hands; e. Hunting scene; f. Mars with eagle.

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