Relief with deities

Four fragments of a relief, two in Berlin, two in the museum of Ostia.
The fragments in Ostia were found in 1938 and 1970, reused and dumped in the Terme del Foro (I,XII,6) and the Terme Bizantine (IV,IV,8). The fragments in Berlin were bought by Christian Bunsen in Rome in 1833. They were probably dug up by Gavin Hamilton in the years 1774-1779.
Date: Antonine. W. of fragments A-D 1.50 - 0.96 - 0.84 - 0.74 (original length perhaps 3 x 1.50), max. h. 0.28, max. d. 0.16-0.18. Carrara marble.

The reliefs shows episodes from the myths of Hephaestus and Athena. Hephaestus - Vulcanus was the protective deity of Ostia, and the pontifex Volkani the main religious authority in the city. The narrative goes from right to left.

Fragments A-D.

At the far right the birth of Athena is depicted. She emerges from the head of Zeus, seated on a throne and holding a sceptre. To his left is a female figure with a mantle floating in the air in an arch above her head. This might be Iris, messenger of the gods, or Eileithyia, goddess of childbirth. In the second scene we see the child Hephaestus with a nurse to the left and his mother Hera seated to the right.

Fragment D (Ostia). Inv. 148.

In the next scene we see the young Hephaestus with hammer and pliers, thrown from Mount Olympus by Hera. Zeus and Hera are depicted in the sky, holding bolts of lightning and a sceptre. On the ground is a reclining female figure, leaning against a sea serpent. This must be a marine deity who raised Hephaestus after his fall. Zeus stretches out his right hand towards a young Athena. She is wearing a helmet, and armed with a lance and shield. To the left is an olive tree, symbol of Athena. The fragment ends with a standing female figure and a shield. This might be the Nereid Thetis, who also raised Hephaestus. The left part of this fragment has not been found.

Fragment C (Berlin). The left part is missing, the right part fits on fragment D.

Both ends of the next fragment are missing. From right to left we see Hermes, Helios, Athena, Zeus and Hera. On this fragment are many modern restorations.

Fragment B (Berlin). Both ends missing.

The last fragment has survived intact. We see Dionysus leaning on a column, Aphrodite with a mantle above her head, Mars holding a lance and a shield, Poseidon holding a trident, the adult Hephaestus, and the armed Athena standing next to an olive tree. In between the latter two deities is a snake moving to the left. The snake represents Erichthonius, child of Athena, Hephaestus and the earth.

Fragment A (Ostia). Inv. 18853.

Berlin fragments: inv. nrs. Sk 912 and 913 (Arachne 154717 and 211605). Ostia fragments: inv. nrs. 148 (Arachne 1074087; Helbig nr. 3052; Guida p. 42 nr. 14; SO XI, nr. A1) and 18853. Photos: Zevi-Micheli 2012, figs. 1-4 and 10. Ostia inv. 148 also ICCD E023923.