Ivory consular diptychon with a standing man (4362)

Found in a channel below the Casone del Sale (the Museum).
Date: c. 450 AD. H. 0.235.
The diptychon celebrates some event in the career of a senator, depicted as a togatus standing in an aedicula. Above him is the inscription C(aio) L(ibio) SEVERO PATRONO, so we are dealing with the western Emperor from 461-465 AD. Below him are the letters MODES, which either stand for the name of the dedicator, Modestus or Modestinus, or is the abbreviation m(agistro) o(fficiorum) des(ignato), "to the designated Master of Offices".

Arachne 1074096. Helbig nr. 3166. Guida p. 99. NSc 1910, 111. CIL XIV Suppl., 5307. EDR072396. Photos: Wikimedia, MumblerJamie and ICCD E027328.