A Roman opaque white mould-blown 'Ajax' glass amphoriskos
Mid 1st Century A.D.
With rounded rim and everted mouth, the neck with traces of a pale aquamarine 'floating' handle remaining, the body blown in a two part mould, the mould mark showing down each side and across the flattened base, mythological scenes depicted in relief on both sides, side (a) showing a ship with a high prow and stern, the central mast with furled sails to reveal the latticed rigging descending from the top spar to the hull from which six oars project, in the stern to the right the diminutive figure of a helmsman and in the prow, to the left, a larger standing figure wearing a helmet and holding a shield identified as Ajax, by a vertical retrograde inscription to his left, AIAC, with waves and fishes below the ship; side (b) showing Ajax seated on a rock beneath an olive tree with a wineskin hanging from the branches, the figure naked except for a cloak, leaning forward to slaughter a sheep, 3¼in (8.3cm) high, both handles missing, rim chipped