£ 300.00
A matching pair of Roman bronze bells with sturdy circular loops for suspension. The bells themselves are cylindrical in shape, with simple incised rings on the top and bottom edges. Below the suspension loop is another smaller hole, which would once have supported the clapper. On one of the two bells, a fragment of the original bronze wire loop, from which the clapper would have hung, still remains.
N. B. The price stated is for the pair.
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In Ancient Roman society and everyday life, small bells such as these served many different purposes. They would often have been intended for practical uses such as signalling time, announcements or to keep track of livestock. Bells were also used in some ritual practices, or were hung from tintinnabula, a sort of wind-chime assemblage, designed to ward off evil.
To learn more about everyday bronze items in the Classical World, visit our relevant post: Everyday Items in the Classical World.
| Dimensions | W 2.3 x H 5.5 cm |
|---|---|
| Metal | Bronze |
| Region | Southern Europe |
Reference: For a similar item, The British Museum, item 1856,1226.937.