Ivory statue of Autumn (Autumnus), Savaria

The statue carved of ivory, which was discovered in Savaria, excels not only with its artistic quality, but also its size among the finds from the territory of Pannonia. Small carved objects and panels with reliefs were primarily made from ivory due to its characteristic feature of splitting into layers; yet the original height of the statue from Savaria was more than 20 centimetres. Although it was earlier identified with the young Bacchus, in fact the personification of Autumnus, Autumn, can be recognized. This is indicated by the wreath of vine grapes on the boy’s head, the apples collected in his mantle, which refer to the harvest, as well as the mantle itself made of dog skin, alluding to autumn hunting. It must have been part of a sculptural composition which also included statues of the other three seasons.