Fish

Object belonging

One's own

Category

Bronze sculpture

City

Rome

Location

Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia

Collection

Store

Inventory

PV 09582

Material and technique

Bronzoe

Author

Paleochristian Roman Art

Dating

4th-6th century

Dimensions

10 x 5 x 1.7 cm.

Origin

Museo Nazionele di Castel Sant'Angelo; già Museo Kirkeriano (n. 9632)

Image copyright

SSPSAE e per il Polo Museale della città di Roma

Short description

This Fish was used as pendant. A hole was made in the upper part of the head in order to attach it via a chain to another object. The latter could have been a jewel, a broach, a jacket, a belt, a vase, a lamp or even a piece of furniture. Not only did the symbol of the fish hold great religious value in Chaldea, Etruria, Egypt and India, it was also associated with the most ancient Christian communities.

Pietro Cannata

Bibliography

Unpublished