Description
The massive marble mask weighs about 1300 kg and probably depicts the face of the sea god Oceanus.
The eyes, nostrils and mouth are open.
Historians aren't quite certain what the original purpose of the disc was.
It was possibly used as a drain cover in the nearby Temple of Hercules Invictus, which had an oculus - a round open space in the middle of the roof, similar to that of the Pantheon, hence it could rain inside.
It is also thought that cattle merchants used it to drain the blood of cattle sacrificed to the god Hercules.
In the thirteenth century the disc was probably removed from the temple and placed against the wall of the Santa Maria in Cosmedin.
In the seventeenth century it eventually moved to its current location inside the portico of the church.
25/07/2015 16:40
Camera : NIKON D3300
Speed : 1/500s
Aperture : f/11.0
Sensitivity : 250 ISO
25/07/2015 16:43
Camera : NIKON D3300
Speed : 1/100s
Aperture : f/5.0
Sensitivity : 400 ISO