BUST REPRESENTATIONS IN BRONZE OF

r THE GOD MERCURIUS, AT

THE LOWER DANUBE

Dorel BONDOC

ABSTRACT: In this article, the author brings forward a new type of

bronze representations of Mercurius, namely bust representations. Even
though the subject has been neglected so far, we were able to identify
eight such representations. Four pieces come from: Desa, Dolj County,
Romania; Novae (Sviştov), Veliko Tarnovo district, Bulgaria; Markovo,
Plovdiv district, Bulgaria, Serdica (Soia), Bulgaria, and other four have
unknown places of discovery (Oltenia-Romania, Dobrogea-Romania,
Devdelia-Macedonia and Severeanu collection).
ALTHOUGH some of the pieces have a few elements of manufacturing
in common, the representations are different one from another. This fact
suggests their origin from different workshops. It is remarkable that the
pieces were used as weights of balance or decorative elements for chari-
ots. Both utilities are connected to the cult of the god Mercurius, the old
divinity of trade and transport.
KEYWORDS: Mercurius; bust representations; bronze statuettes.

Among the religious cults of the population of the Roman province Dacia, the god Mercurius
was very popular. Because of his signiicance as the god of trade, his share and importance increased
proportionally to the intensiication of the trade relations of Dacia.
To honour the god Mercurius, there was a celebration every year on 15th May1. On the inscrip-
tions dedicated to the god Mercurius appear diferent epithets2. Subsequently, the divine personality be-
came more complex, being the protector of the travellers, roads and cross-roads, the god of salvation, the
protector of the state and people. herefore, in his title were included epithets like: FELIX, CUSTOS,
FATALIS, CONSERVATOR, SANCTUS, etc.3. A special mention deserves the inscription from Cioroiu
Nou, where Mercurius bears the epithet GUBERNATOR4.
1 Lăzărescu 1992, 203.
2 See for example in this respect, Nemeti 2005, 130–132.
3 ECR 1982, 485.
4 IDR II 141 with the bibliography; the latest publication of the piece at Bondoc 2010, 27–29, no. 3.
72▕ Dorel BONDOC

he spreading of the cult of the god Mercurius in Dacia is also proved by another category of ar-
chaeological discoveries, that is bronze statuettes5. he speciic symbols of the bronze representations of
Mercurius are: the helmet (hat) with two wings (petasus), the caduceus (two snakes coiled up on a stick) and
the bag. he helmet was not always rendered, the wings being sometimes placed directly on the god’s head.
Despite these speciic prerogative symbols, the bronze representations of Mercurius in Dacia
were, however, very diverse and that is why a typology would be diicult to make6.
he bronze statuettes from Dacia depicting Mercurius, which have been analysed till now, are
whole-body representations, a similar situation being found to the south of the Danube7.
Further on, I will point out a new type of bronze representations of Mercurius, at the Lower
Danube, more precisely bust representations. he catalogue of the pieces was made based on the sta-
tuettes which I could study, and on the published archaeological information. Dealing only with bust
representations, the identiication element was the winged-helmet (petasos) alone.

he catalogue of the pieces

1. Desa (Dolj County, Romania). Stray ind from the southern vicinity of the locality. he object
was full cast; black-greenish patina on its surface; the piece is well preserved.
It is a bust representation of the god Mercurius, with his chest uncovered, wearing a helmet with
little wings on his head (Pl. I/1). His hair covers the forehead and the nape, and it is rendered by little
parallel incisions. he arms end (are cut) under the shoulders, and in this point the bust was delimited
by acanthus leaves turned up to the exterior. he nervures of the leaves were made by angular incisions.
On the back, between the scapulae, there is a circular prominence which was meant to ix a rod. he bust
was placed on a rectangular socle, and above it, there is a horizontal row of ovals in relief.
Such pieces were used to adorn the superior part of a tripod8. Anyway, the piece was imported
from Gallia, and it can be dated in the 2nd century AD9.
Height: 7.5cm. he Museum of Oltenia, inv. no. I 45997.
Bondoc 2000, 6, no. 2.
Antique bronzes 2003, 102, no. 44.
2. Novae (Sviştov, Bulgaria). he piece was hollow cast and it presents some cuttings on the chest
and on one of the sides.
he god Mercurius was depicted/represented as a bust, short haired, combed with middle parting
(Pl. I/2). On his head there are the little wings like two small prominences. he bust was placed on a rec-
tangular socle, which was adorned with incised lines. His arms are “cut” under the shoulders. On the back,
between the scapulae, there is a rod in the shape of the letter “L”. he piece is dated in the 2nd century AD.
he National Archaeological Museum, Soia, inv. no. #205.
Cholakov 2004, 81/Abb. 16, 84.
3. Markovo (Plovdiv district, Bulgaria).
he bust of god Mercurius is placed on a socle, having two lateral columns on the sides (Pl. II/1).
His hair is short and wavy. On his head there are two little wings, without the helmet. His chest is unco-
vered and outlined in relief. he features of his face have been well preserved. Most probably, the piece
was a decorative one, belonging to a chariot.
he Archaeological Museum, Plovdiv; sizes: 10 × 8.5cm.
Botusharova 1948, 52–53, ig. 10.

5 Cociş 1994, 129–133; the latest catalogue, at Ţeposu-Marinescu, Pop 2000, 36–52, no. 16–38, with discussions
and bibliography.
6 Cociş 1994, 129–133; a diferent opinion at Ţeposu-Marinescu, Pop 2000, 49–52.
7 See for example, Atanasova-Georgieva, Mitova-Dzhonova 1985, 79–84; Cerneva 2001, 91–92, ig. 8–10.
8 A lot of analogies from the Roman Empire, see for example at Bois-et-Borsu, after Faider-Feytmans 1979, no. 377
and 380, or at Augst, after Kaufmann-Heinimann 1977, no. 189 etc.
9 Klatt 1995, D29, Abb. 153–155; D26, Abb. 149–150; Cholakov 2004, 84.
 Bust representations in bronze of the god Mercurius, at the Lower Danube ▕ 73

4. Unknown place of discovery (Devdelia, Macedonia).

A bust and nude representation of god Mercurius most probably made after a Greek sculptural
model (Pl. II/2). His head is a little bent to the right. he features of his face have been afected by the
corrosion process. His curly hair is tied with a ribbon. Between the two little wings placed on its head,
there is a leaf of lotus. he bust is placed on an outlined socle and it is supported by two columns on
both sides. his piece was used to decorate a chariot.
he National Museum, Belgrade, inv. no. 2752/III.; sizes: 13.7 × 8.9cm.
Antička bronza 1969, no. 177.
5. Unknown place of discovery (Oltenia, Romania). he piece is well preserved; full casting;
greenish patina on its surface.
he god Mercurius was represented a bust, with its arms ending under the shoulders (Pl. II/3). On
his head, between the two little wings adorned with ine incisions, there is a ring for hanging. he hair was
rendered as if it had been carefully combed and dressed. he representation was placed on a high pedestal,
and it was framed under the chest by a “belt” adorned with angular incisions and dots. he chest is marked
by two circles with a point in the middle. At the lower part of the pedestal there are four strips with inci-
sions. Another “belt” was made in the middle of the piece and below under it being represented his sex in
relief. he “belt” separates two registers adorned with ″S″–shaped and zigzag lines, alternating with points.
Height: 11cm. he Museum of Oltenia, Craiova, inv. no. I 4743.
Bondoc 2000, 61, no. 51.
6. Unknown place of discovery (Severeanu private collection). he piece is well preserved; full casting.
he god Mercurius was depicted as a bust (Pl. III/2), with the arms cut under the shoulders
(Pl. II/4). Unfortunately, from the initial publication of the piece could not be obtained enough infor-
mation, and the published photo is not very clear. Above its head there is a ring for the hanging of the
piece. It seems that the pedestal which supports the object was adorned.
National Museum of Romanian History, Bucharest, inv. no. 980 /20461. Height: 5.7cm.
Gramatopol 1982, 263, Pl. XXVI/5.
7. Serdica (Soia, Bulgaria). he piece is well preserved; full casting.
It is a bust representation of god Mercurius, with the arms ending (cut) under the shoulders (Pl. II/5).
On his head there is a hanging ring, between the two little wings. Like in the case of the previous piece, the
published information is not too generous; therefore it is diicult to ofer a proper description of the object.
National Museum of Romanian History, Bucharest, inv. no. 965 / 19173. Height: 7.7cm.
Gramatopol 1982, 263, Pl. XXVI/14.
8. Unknown place of discovery (Dobrogea, Romania). A bronze piece with black patina and
yellow-brown dots on the surface. he interior of the piece was illed with lead.
Mercurius was represented a bust, wearing a hat (petasus) with little wings on it head; between
the wings there is a hanging ring (Pl. III/1). Under the petasus there can be seen his curly hair on the
forehead and two locks lowering down the shoulders. he details of the face are not clear. His body is
covered by a mantle folded around the neck. he piece was used as a balance weight.
National History and Archaeology Museum, Constanţa, inv. no. 3892; sizes: 9.4 × 6.5cm.
Barbu 1965, 393, no. 9.
Irimia 1966, 18–19, no. 9.
Antique bronzes 2003, 169, no. 308.
hese are the pieces of bust representations of the god Mercurius from the area of the Lower Danube
I could ind so far. It is possible that future discoveries will bring new contributions to the above catalogue.
Although such representations are not so many, they can be found in other Roman provinces of the Empire10.
Regarding the pieces from the above catalogue, there are some observations. First of all, even
though some of them present common features, the representations difer one from another. his fact
suggests that they were made in diferent workshops. he small number of these pieces does not allow
us to make a complete typology.

10 See for example, Faider-Feytmans 1979, nos. 149–151.

74▕ Dorel BONDOC

Moreover, it is remarkable that some pieces were used as weights, others as decorative elements

and transportation*.
for chariots. Both utilities are directly connected to the cult of god Mercurius, the old divinity of trade

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Antička bronza 1969 Lj. B. Popović, D. Mano-Zisi, M. Veličković, B. Jeličič (eds.), Antička bronza u Jugoslaviji,
Beograd 1969.
Antique bronzes 2003 L. Petculescu (ed.), Antique bronzes in Romania. Exhibition catalogue, Bucharest 2003.
Atanasova-Georgieva, I. Atanasova-Georgieva, D. Mitova-Dzhonova, Antichna plastika ot Vidinskiia muzei,
Mitova-Dzhonova1985 Soia 1985.
Barbu 1965 V. Barbu, Bronzes romains du Musée Archéologique de Constantza, Dacia (N. S.), IX, 1965,
387–401.
Bondoc 2000 D. Bondoc, Bronzuri igurate romane. Muzeul Olteniei Craiova I, Craiova 2000.
Bondoc 2010 D. Bondoc, Cioroiu Nou. 100 descoperiri arheologice / One hundred archaeological dis-
coveries, Craiova 2010.
Botusharova 1948 L. Botusharova, Anticini pametniţi ot Bălgaria, GAMP, I, 1948, 49–55.
Cerneva 2001 S. Cerneva, Pregled na bronzovata plastica ot fonga na Arheologhiceschi muzei-Plovdiv,
GAMP, X, 2001, 86–99.
Cholakov 2004 Ivo Cholakov, Bronzebüste von Diana aus dem römischen Militärlager Novae – Anhaben über
örtliche Produktion, ArhBulg, VIII, 2004/2, 71–88.
Cociş 1994 S. Cociş, Mercurius. Représentations en bronze de la Dacie. In J. Ronke (Hrsg.), Akten der 10.
Internationalen Tagung über antike Bronzen, Freiburg, 18–22. Juni, 1988, Forschungen und
Berichte zur Vor– und Frühgeschichte in Baden-Württemberg, 45, Stuttgart, 1994, 129–133.
ECR 1982 D. Tudor (coord.), Enciclopedia civilizaţiei romane, Bucureşti 1982
Faider-Feytmans 1979 G. Faider-Feytmans, Les bronzes romains de Belgique, Mainz am Rhein 1979.
Gramatopol 1982 M. Gramatopol, Dacia Antiqua. Perspective de istoria artei şi teoria culturii, Bucureşti 1982.
Irimia 1966 M. Irimia, Bronzuri igurate. Muzeul Regional de arheologie Dobrogea, Constanţa 1966.
Kaufmann-Heinimann 1977 A. Kaufmann-Heinimann, Die römischen Bronzen der Schweiz. I. Augst und das Gebiet
der Colonia Augusta Raurica, Mainz am Rhein 1977.
Klatt 1995 U. Klatt, Römische Klapptische. Drei– und vierbeinige Stützgestelle aus bronze und Silbers,
KJ, 28, 349–573.
Lăzărescu 1992 George Lăzărescu, Dicţionar de mitologie, Bucureşti 1992.
Nemeti 2005 S. Nemeti, Sincretismul religios în Dacia romană, Cluj-Napoca 2005.
Ţeposu-Marinescu, Pop 2000 L. Ţeposu-Marinescu, C. Pop, Statuete din bronz din Dacia romană. Monograii I,
Bucureşti 2000.

Dorel Bondoc
he Museum of Oltenia, Craiova
dorelbondoc@yahoo.com

* Translated by dr. Mihaela Pena.

 Bust representations in bronze of the god Mercurius, at the Lower Danube ▕ 75

0 3 cm

Pl. I. 1. Mercurius from Desa, Dolj County, Romania (after Bondoc 2000, 6, no. 2);
2. Mercurius from Novae (Sviştov), Bulgaria (after Cholakov 2004, 81, Abb. 16) (no scale) .
76▕ Dorel BONDOC

1 2

0 3 cm
3
0 3 cm

Pl. II. 1. Mercurius from Markovo, Plovdiv district, Bulgaria (after Botuşarova 1948, 52-53, fig. 10) (no scale);
2. Mercurius. Unknown place of discovery (Devdelia, Macedonia) (after Antička bronza 1969, no. 177) (no scale);
3. Mercurius. Unknown place of discovery (Oltenia, România) (after Bondoc 2000, 61, no. 51);
4. Mercurius. Unknown place of discovery (Severeanu collection) (after Gramatopol 1982, 263, pl XXVI/5);
5. Mercurius from Serdica (Sofia), Bulgaria (after Gramatopol 1982, 263, pl. XXVI/14).
 Bust representations in bronze of the god Mercurius, at the Lower Danube ▕ 77

1
0 3 cm

Pl. III. 1. Mercurius. Unknown place (Dobrogea, România) (after Irimia 1966, 18-19, no. 9);
2. Mercurius. Unknown place (Bulgaria) (after Roman bronzes Pri Ban 1984, no. 110).