Description (Inscription)
Inscription, tentatively restored by Richard Nicholls: 'PRIVMNE HELASNTRE MENERVA TARXUNUS'.
Event Date
Author: Esther Laver

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Description (Labels & Markings)
Hand-written label adhered to reverse: ' '.
Event Date
Author: Esther Laver

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Description (Physical description)
Circular bronze mirror with handle. Handle ends in a terminal in the form of a stylized ram's head.
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Other)
This mirror became diassociated from its original accession number (1923.317) at an unknown date, and was reaccessioned as Z 23214 A in 1977.
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card for Z 23214 A-F: '1 mirror with handle lost and three mirrors with one handle. All decorated round the edges and on the front surfaces (some with patterns and floral motifs incised) and on the body of the mirror with human figures'
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Related Documents)
From a sale catalogue: '19. A very fine bronze speculum, engraved with mythological figures, pearled border, the handle terminating in an animal's head, finely patinated, in a leather case'.
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Description (Labels & Markings)
Label affixed to object reads: 'Etruscan mirror found at Citta della Pieve, 1856'.
Event Date
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Context (Analysis)
G. LLoyd-Morgan: 'North Etruscan. Spiky garland group, early-mid 3rd century BC.'
Event Date
Author: maa

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Description (Physical description)
Bronze mirror inscribed right to left; Priumne Helasntre Menerva Tarx [unus]. Dialogue as Troy still in Prime Priam, Paris, Athena, Tarchon (?), integral handle.
Event Date
Author: maa

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Context (Field collection)
Found at Citta della Pieve, 1856.
Event Date 1856
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Description (Physical description)
Accession Register for 1923.317: 'Bronze mirror, handled.'
Event Date 1923
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Description (Physical description)
Accession Register for Z 23214 A-F: '4 bronze Etruscan mirrors, 2 handles.'
Event Date 8/12/1977
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Analysis)
Sampled for metal analysis to be included in the 'Corpus of Etruscan Mirrors'. Drilling taken by Dr. J.A. Charles of the Department of Metallurgy and Material Science on 17 May 1985 and examined by atomic absorption analysis by Dr M. Hughes of the British Museum Research lab. Drill holes filled at the Fitzwilliam Museum, with Paraloid B72 and ground mineral pigments. See MM1/7/18 for note by Julie Dawson (16 July 1985) with drawing and details.
Event Date 17/5/1985
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Context (Analysis)
See Nicholls publication for notes on the inscription, subject and engraving characteristics. Nicholls gives the date as Etruscan, Spiky Garland Group, Hellenistic. The composition of the copper alloy is copper 86.5%, tin 12.02%. The description field has been updated with this description.
Event Date 1993
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Description (Physical description)
Richard Nicholls: 'Circular disc with concave-sided flaring extension with angular points and with handle cast in one piece with disc and decorated all round in relief. Handle ends in terminal in form of stylized head of ram with schematic horns framing ears and eye-outlines; middle part of grip occupied by slightly ribbed torus with heavy incisions each side; similarly incised bands above and below; neck decorated on both sides with flower in relief framing bottom of extension. Obverse: small highly convex reflecting face bounded by channel and, outside this, by radiating pattern of rounded ribs in relief extending around edge, which is of bulbous raised profile; this edge decoration also continues along sides of extension which carries schematic engraved floral(?) ornament but with much of it no longer traceable because of the poor condition of the surface, which also makes it impossible to assess the level of ancient wear in this area. Reverse: concave medallion area of disc is surrounded by raised flat border zone and, raised again above this, by outer band which is prolonged along sides of extension. Interior of extension, at intermediate raised level, engraved with stylized elongated flower (or plant?) with volutes at bottom. Border zone engraved with 'contrived' garland of regularly arranged, close-packed, pointed laurel(?) leaves apparently assembled in the form of two 'spray' bound together with a ribbon(?) at the bottom and meeting at the top. The medallion is engraved with a four-figure composition set in front of a temple-like building with fluted, possibly Ionic columns and with a seemingly open pediment with a central vertical support, this last and also the architrave and cornice diagonally hatched. The right-hand figure is named as Priumne (Priam) in the inscription above on the outer band. He is shown beardless, his left hand holding a staff or sceptre while his right is raised towards his mouth. He wears sandals bound with thongs about his feet and ankles, a fine helmet of Phrygian type pushed back from his face and a himation shown seme with small crosses and wrapped around his hips and legs with one corner carried up behind his back and over his left shoulder. A small area between his helmet and face and a column of the building behind is stippled to provide a contrasting background. In front of him stands a long-haired youth, named in the inscription as Helasntre (presumably Alexander, i.e. Paris). He is naked apart from sandals fastened with thongs about his feet, ankles and calves and a chlamys looped over his left shoulder. He stands cross-legged with his weight on his right foot, steadying himself with a staff wedged under his left armpit and held with his left hand. He has his right arm bent with the hand resting behind his right buttock and his head is turned at a three-quarter angle toward Priam. Behind his right shoulder stands a woman in low girdled garment, possible a peplos, and named in the inscription as Menerva (Athena). She has a helmet of mixed type with a horse-hair plume pushed up on hop of her head and is looking at the young man seated at the left-hand side of the composition. His name, incompletely preserved in the inscription appears to be Tarch..., which has been tentatively restored below as Tarch[unus] (Tarchon). He is half-seated on the edge of a rectangular block or chair, with his left foot raised, resting on higher ground, and his left forearm supported on his left upper leg, while his right hand is raised. He is naked apart from sandals bound with thongs about his feet and ankles, a weighted(?) chlamys apparently draped about his back and left shoulder and what is probably a Phrygian cap on his head. Heavy oxidation obscures some details. A seemingly necklet above his right shoulder may alternatively represent the fastening of his chlamys or a strap for the quiver(?) and bowcase(?) behind his back.'
Event Date 1993
Author: maa

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Context (References)
Nicholls, Richard. (1993). Corpus Speculorum Etruscorum. Great Britain 2, Cambridge: Corpus Christi College, The Fitzwilliam Museum, The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Museum of Classical Archaeology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp 40-42 & plates 17a-d.
Event Date 1993
Author: Imogen Gunn

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Description (Physical description)
Was fragmented but has been repaired. The handle is detached.
Event Date 5/2000
Author: Imogen Gunn (admin)

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Description (Physical description)
Circular copper alloy mirror with handle remaining but detached. The obverse is convex, and the border is decorated with a groove followed by raised ribs around the edge. The surface of the obverse is pitted and uneven. The edges of the reverse flare outwards, and the edge is bevelled; a raised band below the bevel is decorated with an incised floral pattern. The centre of the reverse is decorated with an incised mythological scene, with the figures depicted identified by an inscription written right to left in Etruscan on the bevelled edge: Priam ('Priumne'), the king of Troy; Paris ('Helasntre'), also known as Alexander, his son; Athena ('Menerva'), the goddess of war; and ?Tarchon ('Tarch[unus]'), an Etruscan hero and king. Priam is depicted on the right, seated but wearing a Phrygian helmet and a himation around his lower body; he is talking to his son Paris, who is depicted naked, stood but slouched with his left foot crossed over his right foot. Athena is depicted stood wearing a plumed helmet and speaking to Tarchon, who is seated naked and gesturing towards her with his right hand. In the background, a temple is depicted, with one ionic column visible, and incised linear decoration on the raking cornice. The bottom half of the reverse is corroded, and the details much less visible. The handle is broken off at the base; the ribs of the border of the mirror continue to the top of the handle, and flare outwards. The rest of the handle is decorated with raised bands, and terminates in a stylised ram's head.
Event Date 19/3/2024
Author: Esther Laver