1 Earliest Rome

1. 'The month December'.
5.3 The Saturnalia
2. Mask-alluding to games of disguise played at the festival. Although the mask resembles
a theatrical mask, there is no evidence of any public theatrical performances at this time.
3. The costume of this male figure has been variously interpreted. The short tunic has been
taken to indicate a slave - and so one of the principal participants of the festival.
Alternatively, he has been seen as dressed simply in the normal winter costume of a coun­
try dweller.
4. Dice with the dice-tower, through which the dice were thrown - a reference to the gam­
ing and gambling associated with these celebrations.
5. 'I grant the subjects of the month of December to you.'
6. The torch alludes to the night-time (as well as day-time) celebration of the Saturnalian
parties.
7. Heart-shaped objects, not clearly identifiable.
8. Four lines of verse:
'Behold winrer nourishes the seed thrown each year into the ploughed earth; all is wet
with rain sent from Jupiter. Now let December call once more the golden festival for
Saturn. Now you, slave, are allowed to play with your master.'
9. Birds hanging - the catch of winter-hunting; perhaps also a Saturnalian gift.
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