Offering Bowl

Photograph of a silver bowl from above. A Latin inscription is incised in a circular band around the flat center of the bowl.

Offering Bowl

Medium:: Silver

Dimensions:: H. 3.5 cm; Diam. (mouth) 14 cm

Context:: Berthouville, France

Date:: Roman, 75–225 CE

Inventory Number:: inv. 56.28

Lender:: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris

Tahnee Cracchiola © Getty-BnF

The Latin inscription, which was incised in a circular band around the flat center of the bowl, reads:

MERCVR AVG CRETICVS RVNATIS DSO VSLM

Translation: To Augustan Mercury, Creticus, son of Runas, gave this from his own resources and fulfilled his vow willingly as merited.