ITEM: Statuette of an eagle
MATERIAL: Silver
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 1st Century B.C - 1st Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 14 mm x 4 mm x 10 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex Dutch private collection, acquired between 1970 - 1990

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Roman eagle statuettes were highly symbolic and held great significance in both religious and military contexts of ancient Rome. The eagle (Aquila in Latin) was closely associated with the Roman god Jupiter, the chief deity in the Roman pantheon, who was often depicted with an eagle by his side. As such, eagle statuettes were used in temples and religious settings as representations of divine power and the might of Jupiter, symbolizing strength, authority, and the sky. The connection with Jupiter made the eagle a symbol of Rome's dominance and protection, embodying both religious reverence and imperial might.

In military contexts, the eagle held even greater significance. The Roman army adopted the eagle as its standard, known as the Aquila, for Roman legions. Each legion carried a large eagle standard into battle, and losing it to the enemy was considered a grave dishonor. The eagle embodied the spirit of the legion and symbolized the unity, strength, and loyalty of the Roman soldiers. Smaller eagle statuettes, made from bronze or other metals, were often produced to celebrate victories, honor military achievements, or serve as tokens of protection for soldiers. These statues were not only decorative but also functioned as potent symbols of Roman martial identity.

Eagle statuettes were also used in funerary and memorial contexts, particularly for the deified emperors. Upon the death of an emperor, the belief was that his soul would ascend to the heavens, and the eagle, as a messenger of Jupiter, would carry him into the realm of the gods.