An interesting example (No. 84) of the practice of dedicating altars to members of Roman Imperial houses is furnished by the inscription (fig. 29) in the lower part of Case 98. It formed the front of a marble altar, and is dedicated to the Imperial Fortune by a freedman named Antonius, who was in charge of the "Department of Petitions," for the safe return of the Emperor Septimius Severus, his wife Julia Domna, and his sons Caracalla and Geta. But so far as Geta was concerned, the Imperial Fortune was not propitious. He was murdered by his brother Caracalla, and his name was erased from this, as from all other inscriptions throughout the Roman Empire, by Caracalla's edict. The date of the inscription is about 200 A.D.
In Case 102 is an altar (No. 85) dedicated to the Bona Dea of Anneanum (a town in Etruria) by C. Tullius Hesper and Tullia Restituta. The Bona Dea was a goddess specially invoked by women. Hence we may suppose that it was Tullia Restituta more particularly who showed her thankfulness by this dedication.
In Case 98 are two examples (Nos. 86, 87) of a combined lamp and altar, for use in domestic shrines, probably of late Roman date.[18] In one of these the basin for libations is supported on a pine-cone. Akin to these is the small limestone cone and altar from the Cyrenaica.
No. 88 (fig. 30) is a bronze representing an attendant leading a pig to sacrifice. The pig (as well as the sheep and the bull) was a favourite sacrificial animal among the Romans. At the lustral ceremony of the suovetaurilia, the bull, sheep, and pig were driven round the farmer's fields to keep them free from blight and disease. Certain deities, notably Persephone and the Bona Dea, had swine as their special victims. In Case 105 will be seen a terracotta votive pig (No. 89) found in the precinct of Demeter and Persephone at Knidos.
Fig. 30.—Attendant Driving Pig to Sacrifice (No. 88). Ht. 4 in.
In Case 98 is an elaborate model in terracotta of a temple laver from Cyprus (No. 90). In Case 100 is a terracotta model of a sacred table (No. 91, fig. 31), set with a service of vessels for the sanctuary.
Fig. 31.—Table with Service of Vessels (No. 91). 2:3.