Dolphins were a popular motif in Roman art. They were used as amulets or depicted as statues in bronze, as well as on mosaics, frescoes, oil lamps and on the reverse of coins. They appear frequently in mythology, often helping Classical heroes such as Theseus, as well as being associated with a number of gods, including Bacchus, Apollo, Venus and Cupid. Within the creation myth written by the Latin author, Nonnus, during the 5th century AD, he claims within in his epic poem the ‘Dionysiaca’, that a dolphin carried Aphrodite from the sea to the island of Cyprus. The dolphin was closely associated with the sphere of sensual love, bearing an amatory symbolism and therefore are often seen with goddess of love Venus.
To discover more about oil lamps, please visit our relevant blog post: Lighting The Way.
