Bronze
BCE 200-200 CE
India, Rome, Italy
Town Hall Museum, Kolhapur
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient Rome
Theme
Trade, Movement and Exchange
Subtheme
Trade Within India
Case Title
Made in Rome, found in India
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Findspot
Brahmapuri, Maharashtra, India
Accession Number
A 148
Description
The Brahmapuri Hoard
Four objects in this exhibition – Oinochoe (wine jug), Mirror, Disc with Perseus and Andromeda, and Griffin– come from a remarkable hoard discovered at Brahmapuri (Kolhapur, Maharashtra) in 1945. A mix of Indian coins and products, along with Roman imports, they may have been personal belongings or stock for sale in the Satavahana-ruled markets. Were they used by Romans or Indians?
With origins in ancient Iran, the mythical lion-eagle griffin symbolised power and protection in the Roman world. Satavahana artists probably made copies of Roman objects like this. The griffin variously appears in Indian art.
