Corinium Museum- Roman Objects 1

[poliphilo]

The Corinium Museum underwent a multi-million pound refit six years ago- and is now the model of what a small, regional museum can be. It has some fascinating things.

And, o joy, they permit photography.

Here are some objects from the Roman collections.

1. Corinium had its own school of mosaic workers. This is an example of their work.



2. A sculpture- in high relief of the three Matres- or mother goddesses



3. The Matres again



4. A goddess has been joined by the three genii cuculatti- pixie like figures in hooded cloaks. No-one knows quite who they are or what they stand for- but they were widely popular- and one can't help thinking that they influenced medieval faery lore.



5. The genii cuculatti again- reduced to hoodies on legs...

Comments

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

I am struck by the fact that the Italica mosaic floors (Italica being the Roman city very near Seville) are strikingly similar to the ones you show here. Google "Italica mosaics" and take a look.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I suspect that mosaic makers all over the Roman world worked from the same "pattern books". The Corinium mosaics are particularly fine (for Britain anyway).

[sovay]

The genii cuculatti again- reduced to hoodies on legs...

I have no idea what they stand for, either, but they make me think of May Day hobby horses.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I see what you mean. I wonder if the cucullati relate to some lost tradition of guising.

[sovay]

I wonder if the cucullati relate to some lost tradition of guising.

I don't know how we'd ever find out, but I would love for it to be true.

[endlessrarities.livejournal.com]

I really like the mosaic.

Well, I looked at the genii cuculatti and immediately thought...

[jorrocks-j.livejournal.com]

..."Sam, Frodo, Pippin and Merry. It's obvious. And there they are again in their elven cloaks..."

Tolkien was so deeply and passionately knowledgeable about early-medieval antiquities, that I wonder if he might have seen such images and thought, little men in cloaks and hoods, off on a mysterious journey...Who are they? Where are they going? And why?...

Re: Well, I looked at the genii cuculatti and immediately thought...

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I think you're probably right.