Lot Essay
The entire surface of this urn is intricately sculpted in relief but for the framed tabula on the front, which is uninscribed. The bowl-shaped body is patterned with overlapping oak leaves, with two birds perched below the tabula. Projecting from either side are protomes each in the form of the head of Zeus-Amon with tapering underslung horns. The vessel foot has petals descending towards the lower edge. For a nearly identical example at The Walters Art Museum, no. 411 in F. Sinn, Stadtrömische Marmorurnen.