pin

Description
Head and part of shaft of a copper alloy pin. The finial takes the shape of a four-legged animal on a plinth. The plinth is a simplified Corinthian capital.
Incomplete pin of oval section. The baluster-moulded neck provides a plinth for a small three-dimensional animal, possibly a panther. The animal stands on three legs with the right paw raised. The tail is curved over its back and the head looks to its left with the mouth open as if snarling.
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Object detail

Department
Object/Archaeology
Measurement details
Dimensions:0 - Whole:L 4.4cm (L 1 3/4")
Documentation notes
The panther has been linked with the worship of Bacchus in Roman literature and art (Hutchison 1986, 145) as it was reputed to be the favourite animal of the god on the grounds that "it is the most exciteable of beasts and leaps lightly like a maenad" (Philostr. Imag. I.19.4). Bacchus also elected to go inot battle disguised as a panther according to Diodorus (IV.4.4).
In Britian free-standing panther figurines have been found (see Pitts 1979, pl.27, no.279) but panthers used as decorative elements on functional objects, such as this stud and the pin described later, are rare. Bacchic imagery is not common in the military zone but it is possible that it is the deity's role as a saviour god - a preserver from death - which is being invoked at Camelon (see Henig 1984, 175, 180, 201).
Field collection reference
CM76-123
Site Type
Site
fort annexe
Accession number
1999-012-040

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