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Date: |
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Description: | The object is a cast copper alloy cockerel figurine. It is likely to be dated to the Roman period. Cockerals and goats were associated with the god, Mercury. The cockerel may be associated with Mercury as cckerels are seen to 'herald in a new day' and Mercury was the Herald of the Gods (Green and Jenkins 1995 'Objects Associated with Ritual and Religion' Chapter 4 in Manning, W.H. 1995 Report on the Excavations at Usk 1965-1976: The Roman Small Finds University of Cardiff Press).
The cockerel is stood upright, with the head looking slightly to one side, and downwards. The head has an abraded crest, which is apparently the only incomplete area of the cockerel. A small circular cell on either side of the head depicts the eyes. Each cell is within a fine pointed oval shaped low-relief border. The beak is moulded and defined by an obliquely angled groove on either side. One side of the head is better executed than the other side, which is less elegant. The neck is slender and gently expands towards the body. The body has moulded wings, which are formed by crescentic ridges. The neck and body are further defined by obliquely angled grooves which meet at the upper ridge of the neck and body. The legs are straight and together, with linear vertical indentations giving them definition. The base of the legs are flat and undamaged. However, the cockerel is not balanced to stand on these feet. Where the wings end, and the tail starts there is an almost vertical ridge which forms an ??n?? shape over the back of the cockerel. This ridge is decorated with a column of fine obliquely angled grooves. The tail in profile is a sub-trapezoidal shape. In plan the tail forms a ??
The surface of the cockerel has mainly a mid to dark green coloured patina, which is not well developed. There are traces of a slightly heavier brown patina on the underside and at the back of the legs. It is in a fair condition, with no signs of corrosion.
The cockerel measures 28.92mm tall from head to foot, 21.21mm long from chest to tail, and 11.06mm thick from wing to wing. It weighs 12.5g. | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Creator: | Bolton, Angie - Portable Antiquities Scheme | Identifier: | http://www.findsdatabase.org.uk/hms/pas_... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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