Ancient Roman Bronze Votive 'Manu fica' amulet (No reserve price)
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Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Votive 'Manu fica' amulet, a bronze Roman piece dating to the 3rd–5th century A.D., measuring 23 × 11 mm, in good condition, from a German private collection, with export license and Certificate of Authenticity.
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Description from the seller
ITEM: Votive 'Manu fica' amulet
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 3rd - 5th Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 23 mm x 11 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex German private collection, acquired before 1980s
The fig sign is a mildly obscene gesture used at least since the Roman Age in Italy and Southern Europe and parts of the Mediterranean region, including in Turkish culture, and has also been adopted by Slavic cultures. The gesture uses a thumb wedged in between two fingers. This gesture is most commonly used to ward off the evil eye, insult someone, or deny a request.
In ancient Rome, the fig sign, or manu fica, was made by the pater familias to ward off the evil spirits of the dead as a part of the Lemuria ritual.
The Lemuralia or Lemurian festival is the name given to a pagan religious celebration of the ancient Romans, in which they performed apotropaic rites for three days and nights to exorcise the ghosts of the restless dead and prevent them from haunting their homes.
The description of the ceremony or domestic liturgy carried out in these days by the Roman citizens was given by the Latin poet Ovid in his Fasti: the pater familias would walk barefoot through the house at midnight and make an offering of black beans that he would throw behind his shoulder without turning or looking back, making a fig or chestnut as a defence spell (digitis medio cum pollice iunctis), while he noticed a bronze jug, pot or pot and pronounced the formula: Manes exite paterni! / "Come out, spirits of the ancestors", in a completely apotropic context.
During the days of this festival, the ghosts of the restless dead (called larvae or lemurs, and sometimes umbrae, immagines, species), who could not find rest because they had died a tragic, violent or suicidal death and could disturb the sleep of the living and show themselves at night, were also appeased with offerings of grain and the vestals prepared to offer them the mola salsa, a coarse flour cake with salt made from the first ears of wheat harvested in the season. During these days, considered to be a bad omen, weddings were forbidden (from which the proverb Mense Maio malae nubunt / "The bad girls got married in May"); moreover, all the temples were closed and at night large pots or bronze cymbals were constantly beaten.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateITEM: Votive 'Manu fica' amulet
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Roman
PERIOD: 3rd - 5th Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 23 mm x 11 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex German private collection, acquired before 1980s
The fig sign is a mildly obscene gesture used at least since the Roman Age in Italy and Southern Europe and parts of the Mediterranean region, including in Turkish culture, and has also been adopted by Slavic cultures. The gesture uses a thumb wedged in between two fingers. This gesture is most commonly used to ward off the evil eye, insult someone, or deny a request.
In ancient Rome, the fig sign, or manu fica, was made by the pater familias to ward off the evil spirits of the dead as a part of the Lemuria ritual.
The Lemuralia or Lemurian festival is the name given to a pagan religious celebration of the ancient Romans, in which they performed apotropaic rites for three days and nights to exorcise the ghosts of the restless dead and prevent them from haunting their homes.
The description of the ceremony or domestic liturgy carried out in these days by the Roman citizens was given by the Latin poet Ovid in his Fasti: the pater familias would walk barefoot through the house at midnight and make an offering of black beans that he would throw behind his shoulder without turning or looking back, making a fig or chestnut as a defence spell (digitis medio cum pollice iunctis), while he noticed a bronze jug, pot or pot and pronounced the formula: Manes exite paterni! / "Come out, spirits of the ancestors", in a completely apotropic context.
During the days of this festival, the ghosts of the restless dead (called larvae or lemurs, and sometimes umbrae, immagines, species), who could not find rest because they had died a tragic, violent or suicidal death and could disturb the sleep of the living and show themselves at night, were also appeased with offerings of grain and the vestals prepared to offer them the mola salsa, a coarse flour cake with salt made from the first ears of wheat harvested in the season. During these days, considered to be a bad omen, weddings were forbidden (from which the proverb Mense Maio malae nubunt / "The bad girls got married in May"); moreover, all the temples were closed and at night large pots or bronze cymbals were constantly beaten.
Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export license
Seller's Story
Your Antiquarian offers ancient art and ancient coins. Our main objective is to offer the highest quality at the best price respecting and strictly complying with the laws of heritage protection and UNESCO heritage norms. Therefore, all the pieces that are published come from private collections in which the provenance can be checked or international auctions. All our antiquities and coins are accompanied by their Certificate of Authenticity. We have a no quibble 90 day return policy. At Your Antiquarian we are committed to helping disadvantaged groups and for this reason a portion of each purchase is donated to charities to help people in need.
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Culture
Ancient Roman
Century/timeframe
3rd - 5th Century A.D
Name of object
Votive 'Manu fica' amulet
Acquired from
Antique market
Year acquired
2026
Material
Bronze
Country acquired from
Germany
Condition
Good
Previous owner acquired from
Antique market
Previous owner - year acquired
1980
Previous owner - country acquired from
Germany
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
Disclaimer
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
The seller was informed by Catawiki about documentation requirements and guarantees the following: - the object was legally obtained, - the seller has the right to sell and/or export the object, as relevant, - the seller will provide the necessary provenance information and arrange required documentation and permits/licenses, as applicable and as per local laws, - the seller will notify the buyer of any delays in obtaining permits/licenses. By bidding, you acknowledge that import documentation may be required depending on your country of residence and that obtaining permits/licenses may cause delays in the delivery of your object.
