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  1. Seuso Research Project
  2. The artefacts
  3. The Animal Ewer
Animal ewer
Animal ewer
Male bust on the animal ewer
Male bust on the animal ewer
Bestiarius and wild animals
Bestiarius and wild animals
Bestiarius with whip
Bestiarius with whip
Leopards on the animal ewer
Leopards on the animal ewer
Lioness on the animal ewer
Lioness on the animal ewer
The lid of the ewer
The lid of the ewer
Oak branch and niello decoration on the neck of the ewer
Oak branch and niello decoration on the neck of the ewer
Top view of the ewer with openwork decoration
Top view of the ewer with openwork decoration

The Animal Ewer

The decoration guides the viewer to the world of amphitheatres. The entire surface of the ewer on a decagonal base with a capacity of approximately 4 litres is covered by 120 hexagonal panels. Some of these are decorated with floral motifs, while others are ornamented with animal and human figures. Besides the superbly engraved lions, wild boars, bears and hares, the figures of bestiarii—young men holding whips in their hands, who teased and set wild animals against each other in amphitheatres—can also be seen. The upper part of the ewer and its hemispherical lid are decorated with male busts and heads. The neck is surrounded by an oak branch full of acorns, which was fashioned in relief.

The animal ewer probably belonged to a wash set and could also have been used as a wine ewer. The body of the vessel was shaped by hammering. The engraved representations are made even more decorative with blackish niello inlay and gilding. The lid was hinged to open easily. It must have been used for a long time because the engraved details of the youth heads next to the rivets affixing the lid wore off completely.

Height: 51 cm
Diameter: 19.4 cm
Weight: 3.983 kilograms
Material: silver of 91–98% purity

The artefacts

The Seuso Platter

Seuso platter
Medallion of the Seuso platter

The Hippolytus ewer

Hippolytus ewer
The Hippolytus ewer’s handle decorated with an oak branch

The Hippolytus situlae

Representation of Phaedra on situla B of the Hippolytus set
Representation of Phaedra on situla A of the Hippolytus set

The Achilles Platter

Achilles platter
Achilles on the Island of Skyros

The Animal Ewer

Animal ewer
Male bust on the animal ewer

The Meleager Platter

Meleager platter
Medallion of the Meleager platter

The Amphora

The Amphora
Dionysus as a youth on the amphora

The Geometric Platter

Geometric platter
Medallion of the geometric platter

The Geometric ewers

Geometric ewer A
Geometric ewer B

Wash basin

The washbasin
Medallion of the washbasin and detail of the medallion

The Dionysiac Ewer

Dionysiac ewer
Dionysus with the panther on the side of the ewer

The Perfume Casket

The Perfume Casket
Handmaids with mirror  and casket

The Cauldron

The copper cauldron used for concealing the treasure
Rivets joining the sheets on the side of the cauldron

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