Pillar of Saint-Landry

The Pillar of Saint Landry
Ile-de-France
Ceramic decorated in blue
Second half of 2nd century A.D. J.-C.
Limeston
Discoverd in Paris, île de la Cité
 Du Sommerard Fund, acquired in 1840
Cl. 18606
 

These three fragments were discovered in 1829 during a refit at the location of the Saint-Landry church, now gone, on the Ile de la Cité. They probably were parts of a votive monument which remains incomplete.
The main die (Cl. 18606) bears representations of divinity on three of its sides. The first face shows Vulcan, wearing a tunic (an exomis) and a pointed bonnet. The god Mars is sculpted into the next side. Leaning on a pole, he is identified by his cuirass and helmet. The third face depicts a goddess holding what is probably a torch. It could be a representation of the moon. The fourth face is decorated with imbricated leaves.
The other two blocks are smaller. The first (Cl. 18607) has the same botanical decoration on two of its sides. The only side adorned with a figure shows a flute-player. On the opposite side a rosette is carved.
The final block (Cl. 18608) is frequently related to the die at Gigantomachy (mythical battle between the Giants and the Olympian gods). It is only the bottom part of the die. On it is a side dedicated to the imbricated leaf pattern. The main side shows the legs of a male personage. Beside them is a smaller male as well as a monster anguiped. The last two faces show the legs of a god and goddess.