HOME > THE ROMAN WORLD > THE POMPEIAN HORTI > THE HOUSE OF THE GOLDEN CUPIDS > TWO-FACED HERMAE AND OSCILLA
< PREVIOUS | NEXT >

Two-faced hermae and oscilla

Two-faced hermae

The two-faced hermae date from the early years of the Imperial Age and usually represent Dionysian divinities, although they were actually devoid of religious significance, unlike those of Greece. Their function was mainly ornamental, as a decoration of villas, gardens and gymnasiums.

Some of them represent two similar types with a few variations, while others two different types, or even the same type repeated twice.


  Herma of Dionysus   Two-faced herma of Jupiter Amon   Two-faced herma of Jupiter Amon
 

Oscilla

These mobiles were hung between the columns in the gardens of Roman houses, in such a way as to oscillate. Decorated on both sides, they existed in the form of masks, disks and crescent moons.


  Mask of Paniscus   Mask of Maenad   Mask of a woman   Oscillum with centaur   Oscillum with centaur   Oscillum with Pyrrhic dancers   Oscillum with Pyrrhic dancers
 
 
 


 
 
  © 2007 IMSS   Piazza dei Giudici 1   50122 Florence   ITALY