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Collyrium Stamps: An Indicator of Regional Practices in Roman Gaul

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2017

Patricia Baker
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Abstract

Collyrium stamps, objects used to mark eye medicines, are more commonly found in Gaul than any other Roman province. Since they appear after Roman occupation, it is believed they evince a spread of Roman medicine, but this idea is not well-supported. Through a detailed study of the collyrium stamps it is apparent that the stamps took on other functions beyond marking remedies. They were used as amulets and votive offerings, signified by the fact that most are made of steatite and schist, almost all are green – a colour associated with eye care, and a number are decorated with magical symbols, and also by their context. Ultimately, the manner in which they were used demonstrates an adaptation of Roman material culture to fit the practices and beliefs based on earlier Iron Age traditions in the region.

Les cachets d'oculistes, objets utilisés pour le marquage des médicaments pour les yeux, sont retrouvés plus communément en Gaule que dans les autres provinces romaines. Comme ils apparaissent seulement après l'occupation romaine, on estime qu'ils reflètent la diffusion de la médicine romaine, mais cette idée n'arrive pas à s'imposer. Après une étude détaillée des cachets de collyre, il apparut que la protection de la vision n'était pas seulement importante pour les habitants de la Gaule, mais que les timbres avaient des fonctions au-delà de marqueurs de remèdes. Ils étaient utilisés comme amulettes et offrandes votives, signalé par le fait que la plupart sont en stéatite et schiste; presque tous sont verts, une couleur associée aux soins des yeux; et un certain nombre portent des symboles magiques. Leur contexte indique leur dépôt votif. De plus, la façon dont ils étaient utilisés montre une adaptation de la culture matérielle romaine dans le but de correspondre aux pratiques et croyances basées sur les anciennes traditions datant de l'Âge du Fer dans la région. Translation by Isabelle Gerges.

Zusammenfassung

Zusammenfassung

Augensalbenstempel, Objekte, mit denen Augenmedikamente markiert wurden, werden allgemein häufiger in Gallien gefunden als in irgendeiner anderen römischen Provinz. Da sie im Zeitraum nach der römischen Okkupation erscheinen, wird angenommen, dass sie eine Ausbreitungrömischer Medizin belegen. Doch ist diese Idee nicht gut belegt. Aufgrund einer detaillierten Studie wurde klar, dass diese Stempel neben der Markierung von Pharmaka auch andere Funktionen besaßen. Sie wurden als Amulette und Votivgaben genutzt, was durch den Fakt, dass sie aus Steatit und Schiefer gefertigt wurden und fast alle grün sind (eine Farbe, die mit der Augenheilkunde verbunden ist), eine Anzahl von ihnen mit magischen Symbolen bedeckt ist und auch durch ihren Kontext untermauert wird. Letztendlich demonstriert die Art und Weise ihrer Nutzung eine Adaption römischer materieller Kultur, um die auf früheren eisenzeitlichen Traditionen basierenden Praktiken und Ansichten der Region anzupassen. Translation by Heiner Schwarzberg.

Keywords

collyrium stampsGallo-Roman medicinemedical identitycontextual archaeologydepositionhealing ritualgreencachets de collyrecachets de collyremédicine gallo-romaineidentité médicalearchéologie contextuelledépôtrites curatifsvertAugensalbenstempelgallorömische Medizinmedizinische IdentitätkontextuelleArchäologieDeponierungHeilungsritualgrün
Type
Articles
Information
European Journal of Archaeology , Volume 14 , Issue 1-2 , 2011 , pp. 158 - 189
Copyright
Copyright © 2011 Maney Publishing 

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