Ancient World, Phallus Bronze Tintinnabulum, Door chime, Ercolaneo, Herculaneum
No title. Phallus Bronze Tintinnabulum. Door chime. Assemblage of bells.
In ancient Rome (and Heculaneum as well as in Pompeii) the owners of private homes or shops used to hang door chimes with bells in front of their main door. In part this was a habit for fending off harm and / or for attracting customers. Wind would make these charms tinkle attracting attention this way. These phallus door chimes hang most likely in from t of brothels.
Copper etching after the drawing by Nicolo Vanni
Published in "Abbildungen der Gemälde und Alterthümer, welche seit 1738 sowohl in der verschütteten Stadt Herkulaneum, als auch in den umliegenden Gegenden an das Licht gebracht worden".
These charms survived the outbreak of Vesuvius in the year 70 A.D. The were found in the excavations of Heruculaneum and vicinity after 1738
Publisher: Georg Christoph Kilian (1709-1781)
Published in Augsburg, 1793-1797
Print has horizontal fold across. It is age toned. Margin edges are brown. Lower margin narrow.
Imprint in parts shallow.
Overall except margins: 30 - 36 cm (ca, 11.8 x 14.1")