1,800 Year-Old Sculpture Unearthed in Gloucester
Archaeologists unearthed a remarkably well preserved 1,800 year old figurine during a city centre excavation in Gloucester.
Photo: Cotswold Archaeology
The statuette, discovered at the site of the £107 million Forum development, is among several Roman-era artefacts found.
Standing 17 cm tall, this pipeclay figurine, dating to the 1st or 2nd century AD, represents Venus, the Roman goddess of love.
The piece is almost intact, with only minor damage to the base and feet.
Photo: Cotswold Archaeology
Venus is depicted in her classic stance, holding a garment at her left side and raising her right arm to grasp a lock of hair.
The figurine was unearthed alongside evidence of the city's ancient Roman past, including stone foundations from what may have been a large suburb outside the city walls.
Roman pipeclay objects were produced in Gaul and the Rhine-Moselle region, primarily during the late 1st and 2nd centuries AD.
They have been discovered throughout the western provinces, including Britain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
These objects often depicted classical religious figures, especially female deities, with Venus being the most common.
However, animals, humans, and other forms were also crafted.
They were created using two-part clay or plaster moulds and fired in kilns at temperatures of 900-1000°C.
Moulds of Venus, among others, have been found in the Allier Valley of central France.
Religious figurines were likely used in daily rituals within household shrines, with the focus on female deities suggesting they were primarily used by women.
Venus, the classical goddess, symbolised love and sexuality, but her role also extended to beauty, fertility, prosperity, and victory.
Some early scholars proposed a different interpretation, linking these figurines to a native Celtic water cult, leading to their earlier designation as "pseudo Venus."
The first detailed study of pipeclay figurines was conducted by Rouvier-Jeanlin in 1972, which established a typology of Venus figurines divided into nine categories.
This classification system, still in use today, primarily focuses on how the garment at the lower left side of the figurine is held.
The Gloucester example is classified as Type 2, where the garment is held by the fingertips, the most common among the Venus types.
The Romans also used sculpture’s as a form of imperial propaganda to assert their dominance and spread their influence.
Portraits of emperors and military leaders were created to reinforce the authority of Roman rule.
These statues and busts were often erected in public spaces, such as forums, baths, and villas, to remind the population of the emperor's divine status and the power of the Roman state.
For example, statues of Roman emperors like Augustus or Hadrian were often set up in Romanized towns and settlements to symbolize Roman order and the unity of the Empire.
These sculptures served as visual representations of Rome’s imperial power, creating a sense of loyalty and submission among the conquered populations in Britain.
Sculpture in Roman Britain also served as decoration, particularly in the homes and estates of the wealthy elite.
Villas were often adorned with statues, reliefs, and mosaics, reflecting the Roman tradition of beautifying private spaces with art.
Sculptures of gods, goddesses, mythological creatures, and even animals were placed in gardens, atriums, and courtyards, enhancing the luxury and prestige of the home.
This fascinating discovery was made in November 2021, by Cotswolds Archaeology - their Facebook page is well worth a follow!
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