Zodiacal bronze plaques from Ostia

TNMM 2035 ↔ CIMRM 320B

Maria F. Squarciapin in AC V 1953 (1954), 260ff and Pl. CXIV publishes a series of seven small rectangular bronze plates (H. 0.0037–0.0038 Br. 0.0023–0.0022) with six signs of the zodiac (Scorpion-Lion-Archer-Sol as Auriga-Virgin-Twins).

They were found in Ostia and are preserved there in the Antiquarium (Inv. Nos. 4151–4157). One plate has a representation of Mars as a planctarian god, but it is also possible to explain the figure of Sol as the planet and not as Auriga. In the centre of each piece is a nail which sticks out a few centimetres at the back. The author is of the opinion that probably other similar small plates completed the series of the zodiac signs and of the planets. The Mars is very much akin to the one on the mosaic of Mithraeum No. 288, 6 and therefore she assigns all the pieces to the third century. As to the nails, they would have served to fasten the plates to either a figure of Aion or Mithras-tauroctone relief (in Ostia generally made of marble!). This hypothesis is very doubtful. Future finds may demonstrate that this sort of plates was fastened to the walls of a Mithraeum. But only Mon. No. 1597 has been found to be fastened to a Mithraic monument (cf. Mon. No. 1461). Apart from the Mithraic cult the signs of the zodiacs and of the planets were in very general use although in some cases clearly influenced by it.