Exceptional

An exceptional image of the goddess Roma has been retrieved from a major mass transit construction project in the heart of the Eternal City. While working on the rescue dig on the Metro C Line in Rome, archaeologists found a round shard of glass. When cleaned, it was found to be an image of the ancient goddess of the city painted in gold on clear glass.

The finely drawn goddess is depicted in profile, facing right. She wears martial garb and holds a spear with an elaborate spearhead. No other examples of Roma painted on glass are known. The rough edges suggest that it was probably once the bottom of a glass beaker. Clearly it was a valued object, and the base was saved by its owner after the sides of the beaker broke off.