Circular Impressed Disk
4th century BCE
Description
This intact terracotta circular disk, with a rectangular pierced tang at the bottom, bears the impression of more than two dozen symbols. From top to bottom, starting with the upper register, the objects can be identified as a grape bunch over a crescent moon, tongs, two amphorae or kantharoi flanking three distaffs (for spinning) above an owl, and a four-spoked wheel; in the second register, there is a distaff with wool wound around it, a club, trident, distaff, caduceus, patera or offering bread, lighting bolt, scabbard, torch with flame arching to the right, and a ladder-shape, possibly an Apulian sistrum (a type of musical instrument). In the third register, there are three round offering cakes, a wavy symbol that could be a bow or serpent or cuttlefish above a square tablet, a lyre above an open hand, a bird (an eagle or a dove) facing right above an infinity symbol (either an open box mirror or cymbals) above a strigil or Egyptian sistrum, next to two difficult to read objects, of which one might be an oil flask.
Dimensions
11.5 x 1.5 cm (4 1/2 x 9/16 in.)
Provenance
Taranto, Italy, (before 1924) purchase; by Walton Brooks McDaniel, New Jersey (?-1943/46) gift; to the Department of the Classics, Harvard University, (1943/46-2012) transfer; to the Harvard Art Museums, 2012. Note: Walton Brooks McDaniel gave a portion of his collection to the Department of the Classics in 1943 and the rest in 1946. The Collection is named for his late wife, Alice Corinne McDaniel.
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