ROMAN CAPITAL
Roman Culture
ROMAN CAPITAL
Sandstone.
Height: 50 cm. Maximum width: 61 cm. Base diameter: 50 cm.
Roman period. End of 1st century BC - 1st century AD
Origin
Mesas de Asta. Jerez de la Frontera. Cádiz.
Description
This Corinthian capital was found in the central area of what was the ancient city of Hasta Regia. It has a double crown of thick and smooth acanthus leaves, beginning directly at the collar. The acanthus leaves cover almost the entire piece. The volutes and central spirals are supported by the abacus. In the centre of the abacus there is an open acanthus leaf instead of the traditional four-petal rosette. The capital was completely stuccoed in white to give it a greater appearance of luxury and to protect the porous and crumbly limestone. The column as a whole would have measured about four and a half metres in height, which seems to indicate that it belonged to a public building of some description.
Bibliography
- Esteve Guerrero, M. 1961: “Marca de fabricante de vidrio y otros hallazgos inéditos de Asta Regia”. Archivo Español de Arqueología XXXIV p.206.
