Bronze Terminal Figure of Priapus in the British Museum, April 2013

Bronze Terminal Figure of Priapus

Object type: figure

Museum number: 1814,0704.411

Description: Bronze terminal figure of Priapus emerging from a pillar, and sacrificing.

Culture/period: Roman

Date: 1stC-2ndC

Materials: bronze

Dimensions: Height: 11.1 centimetres

Location: G69/12

Exhibition history:
Exhibited: 2010 Jan - April, Nottingham, Lakeside Arts Centre, The University of Nottingham, 'Roman Sexuality: Images, Myths and Meanings'
2014 Feb-May, Brading Roman Villa, Isle of Wight, Roman Sexuality: Images, Myths and Meanings

Subjects: classical deity

Representation of: Priapus

Acquisition name: Purchased from: Peregrine Edward Towneley

Previous owner/ex-collection: Charles Townley

Acquisition date: 1814

Department: Greek & Roman Antiquities

Registration number: 1814,0704.411

Text from: www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=464024&partId=1&searchText=priapus+bronze&page=1


Priapus, a fertility god, is shown here emerging from a pillar, and sacrificing. Images of the god were placed in household shrines as protection for the boundaries of the family's land, in addition to the wellbeing of the crops grown on it and the animals reared there.

Text from the British Museum label.