Corinthian capital, late 2nd/early 3rd century

This huge column capital was found in two pieces in 1838 at the corner of Tower Street and The Avenue in Cirencester. It dates to the late 2nd or early 3rd century and is made of local oolitic limestone.

The capital is probably from the top of a sacred column (similar to the one to which the Septimius stone refers) which would have supported a statue. Such columns were often dedicated to Jupiter, king of the gods.

The four figures carved on the column are thought to relate to Bacchus, the god of wine and drinking. Bacchus himself is shown with a bunch of grapes on each side of his head, a thrysus (staff wreathed in ivy) and a wine cup. He is often shown with his right arm raised - a sign of inebriation. The second male figure, who holds a drinking horn raised to his lips and a staff in his left hand, is thought to be Silenus, the demi-god attendant of Bacchus. The female figure may be a maenad (a female priestess of Bacchus). The final figure is thought to be King Lycurgus, who drove Bacchus and his followers out of his kingdom and forbad his worship. The axe he holds represents his attack on Bacchus and the vine staff represents the vine with which he was strangled.



Due to a major redevelopment the Corinium Museum will be closed to the public until Spring 2004. For further details please visit our website.

For further information please contact: Cotswold Museums ServiceCorinium MuseumPark StreetCirencesterGlos. GL7 2BX

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