Borreguillo Mágico

Halina Nowicka（Polish, b.1959）

Stefan Johansson（Swedish, 1876–1955）

A bird of prey stands out in the upper part of the lararium. The raptor, which can probably be identified as an eagle, holds a palm branch in its claws. In the lower part, the scene consists of two snakes facing each other which frame an altar with a fluted circular shaft on which offerings are placed. From the left, it is possible to distinguish the following features:  a pine cone, a raised element that supports an egg, and what appear to be a fig and a date. The background of the scene is filled with two bushes with lanceolate leaves and red and yellow berries on which three sparrows move about. Several interesting finds were discovered inside the niche: ritual objects, left as part of a last offering before the eruption that destroyed Pompeii in AD 79: an incense burner in achromatic clay with missing pieces dating from antiquity and a lamp, both displaying clear signs of burning. Laboratory analyses have made it possible to identify the remains of twigs of aromatic plants, while two parts of a dried fig were found behind the two objects. Two strips of coloured marble were discovered on the flat top of the altar together with a third element, presumably made of red marble, with the depiction of a face ascribable to the Dionysian world, probably a Silenus.

Kevin Lucbert（French, b.1985）

Torbjörn Zetterholm（Swedish, 1921-2007）