04-09-2011, 09:37 PM
The 19th century drawings of the lost stucco reliefs on the (so-called) tomb of Umbricius Scaurus at Pompeii show a mirmillo's shield with what appears to be two sirena bicaudata on it. The few sources I can find on this indicate that this is a medieval motif and not (ancient) Roman. Does anyone know of any evidence that such a thing was known in early first century Roman Italy, or is this perhaps a piece of "creative reconstruction" on the part of the 19th century artist?
[Edit: Alright, please disregard my question. I'm pretty sure now that the devices may be intended to represent Triton. He is supposed in Greco-Roman mythology to have been bicaudal. There is a spiffing mosaic of him on the floor of the women's baths at Herculaneum. Some Roman coins show bicaudal mermen too. Triton would fit very well with the "sea life" motifs on some of the gladiatorial equipment found in Pompeii too.]
[Edit: Alright, please disregard my question. I'm pretty sure now that the devices may be intended to represent Triton. He is supposed in Greco-Roman mythology to have been bicaudal. There is a spiffing mosaic of him on the floor of the women's baths at Herculaneum. Some Roman coins show bicaudal mermen too. Triton would fit very well with the "sea life" motifs on some of the gladiatorial equipment found in Pompeii too.]
Hello, my name is Harry.
