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This figurine was found by a metal-detectorist near Holton-le-Clay in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire. Although it is lacking its head, enough stylistic features have survived to identify it as representing Vulcan, Roman god of fire and the forge, who lends his name etymologically to the word ‘volcano’.
Cast in copper-alloy, and measuring 75mm in length, the god is shown seated and slightly hunched, with arms bent at the elbows and both hands raised. His legs are crossed, and, while some details have been lost to wear and damage, the toes remain and are rendered naturalistically in the metal. Vulcan’s short tunic falls in folds to just above the knee, and his left shoulder is kept bare.
This garment provides a key clue to deciphering the figurine’s subject, as Vulcan was often depicted wearing a short tunic covering only one shoulder. Although the details of his hands are largely worn away, both contain a small hole (now filled with detritus) which suggests that the god originally held objects: in this case, probably a hammer and tongs, Vulcan’s identifying attributes. Unfortunately, such implements are not known to have survived in any examples from Britain yet discovered (see, for example, LEIC-DD3E91 on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database).
While its use is not certain, figurines like this were often given as votive offerings at household or even local shrines during the Roman period. Such images of Vulcan were once thought to be extremely rare in Britain, but reidentification of older examples has revealed that this was not the case.
For more information about this object, see https://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/1186263 or search for LIN-90A6C1 on the PAS database.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme is an initiative to encourage the recording of archaeological objects found by members of the public in England and Wales. For more information on the Scheme, and to browse its database of more than 1.5 million finds, visit www.finds.org.uk. Information on this find was provided by Lisa Brundle, Finds Liaison Officer, and Megan Preece, Finds Liaison Assistant, for Lincolnshire. Identification assistance was provided by Professor Martin Henig.
Text: Rebecca Preedy / Image: Lincolnshire County Council
