Ave!

Gallo-Roman Figural Votive Plaque c. 3rd Century AD

Lead; 85mm X 75mm / 113gm.

Con/ VF with sandy lead patina. Slightly plow bent but firmly intact.

Rectangular type: above, fish swimming left

The 1st Tier: Writhing snakes facing inward and feeding from an urn/chalice. To left, bust of Luna on crescent moon; to right, radiate bust of Sol

The 2nd Tier: A pair of mounted horsemen (Castor and Pollux) each proceeding inward and flanking the standing facing figure of Epona, the sole Celtic divinity ultimately worshipped in Rome itself as the patroness of cavalry. To left, forepart of a ram, one leg raised; to right, a togate (?) figure. Beneath the horsemen, a pair of trampled enemies, supine, facing each other, one arm expended.

3rd Tier: left to right; tripod, eagle-topped standard, man kneeling left, hanging rabbit in a small tree, three pellets above an amphora, and a cockerel standing left on a ram's skull (bucranium).

Ref/ Ertl type F.1

Seller's Note/ Very Rare in this unbroken condition and seldom presented. This is such an extraordinary artifact, that the more I look at it in sunlight the more details I see.