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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;rrdenarius, post: 5255019, member: 75525&quot;]3.&nbsp; &nbsp; Athena steelyard weight</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1219358[/ATTACH]</p><p>Byzantine / Late Roman Athena Steelyard Weight, bronze shell with lead filling, 5th - 8th century AD*. A large and heavy, steelyard weight in the form of Athena / Minerva**. She wears a tall crested Corinthian helmet and an Aegis with a Gorgon head and four snakes. The back of her vest has rows of armor plates. Rich dark brown and emerald green patina throughout.</p><p>12.6 pounds</p><p>9-1/2 &quot; tall, including 1&quot; loop at top of weight</p><p>4-1/2 &quot; wide at shoulders</p><p>3-1/2 &quot; deep from Aegis to back</p><p>base dimensions are 4.5 X 3.5 &quot;</p><p>Notes:</p><p>* - 5th to 8th centuries AD. Anne McClanan in <i>Representations of Early Byzantine Empresses</i>.</p><p>** - Minerva was the Roman name for the Greek goddess Athena. Most of their attributes (Powers, clothing, etc.) are the same. Minerva weights are thought to be from the Western Roman Empire and are dated earlier, 2nd – 3rd century AD. Athena weights are related to Byzantine empress weights. Norbert Franken in <i>AEQUIPOMDIA</i> places statues like this in group CB which is Athena. Minerva is in group A.</p><p><br /></p><p>2.&nbsp;&nbsp; Athena / Owl Tetradrachm</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1219361[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]1219363[/ATTACH]</p><p>Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC, Athens.</p><p>Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl</p><p>Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and berry in upper left field, AΘE to right; all within incuse square.</p><p>Struck on a flan that includes all of Athena’s helmet crest and full reverse borders.</p><p>17.17 grams</p><p>1 h</p><p>This Owl was from a large hoard that included Hoplite/Triskeles Staters from Pamphylia, Aspendos, see below.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1219364[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>1.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Steelyard Weight with Bust of Byzantine Empress</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1219365[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]1219366[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]1219367[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1219368[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]1219369[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]1219370[/ATTACH]</p><p>Steelyard scale in the form of a late Roman or early Byzantine empress. Most of the attributions call the empress anonymous. Byzantine empresses were used for weights to encourage the public&#039;s belief the state ensured fair and prosperous trade. She is wearing a tunic (a bit like a T-shirt) that is covered by a Stola (Shawl, Himation, Cloak, Toga or some sort of outer garment.). The tunic drapes from her left shoulder to her right hip and from her right shoulder under her right arm. Her right hand is open in the center of her chest. In her left hand she holds a mappa, an official symbol of imperial authority, or a scroll, reflecting the state&#039;s emphasis on learning. Her jewelry is:</p><p>•&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; A beaded necklace</p><p>•&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; A second necklace (this might be jewels at the top of her toga).</p><p>•&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; A crown with strings of jewels cascading down the right and left side of her face.</p><p>Her hair is braided in two strands and rolled to the top of her head, see pic below3. It is hard to tell what is hair and what is jewelry on this statue.</p><p>Dimensions:</p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 8-1/8” tall (7-1/4” empress plus 1” hanging ring)</p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 4.25” wide; Some of the base has been bent due to being dropped and is a bit wider.</p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 3.0” thick</p><p>·&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Oval base. Some weights have a circular or irregular shape.</p><p>Weight: 1411 grams = 3.1 US pounds = 4.5 Roman pounds (As or Libra)</p><p>Materials: Cast bronze shell. Most catalogers say produced by lost wax method, followed by cold working. Some, but not this one, are filled with lead to increase their weight.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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