Zodiacal bronze plaques from Ostia

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…