Fish were 'fishy' in the ancient world. While fish and fish-products provided a necessary relish (and source of protein) to the heavily grain-based ancient diet, they were also perceived as having dangerous habits - a willingness to eat people, for example...
This wide-ranging collection of fish representations underlines the ubiquity of fish in the ancient imagination. Fish also carried many symbolic meanings, the most familiar of which is probably the use of fish imagery in Early Christianity.
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Red-figure fish plate |
Represented on this plate are two perch and a 'torpedo fish', prized not only for its flesh, liver, and medicinal uses, but also for its ability to emit electric shocks. Although it depicts fish, the plate could have been used for nuts, fruit, cakes, and even funerary offerings. Like a modern day 'dip' bowl, this plate has a center depression which could hold sauce, such as the pungent fish sauce called garum.
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Bronze head of fish |
Bronze fish |
Without a secure archaeological context, it is often difficult to determine whether an object is truly ancient. The web exhibit, The Art of the Fake: Egyptian Forgeries from the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, explores these issues in depth.
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Water filter |
This filter, once part of a large sturdy household jar, was designed to keep unwanted elements out of water intended for drinking or cooking. As in this example, such filters could be quite decorative, as we see with the large fish 'straining' the water poured through it. A much earlier water filtering jug gives an idea of how the entire pot might have looked.
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Bread stamp with fish decoration |
Bread stamp with fish decoration |
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Head of fish, glass inlay fragment |
This fragment of glass inlay shows a colorful, if ferocious-looking fish. It probably decorated a piece of furniture in a rich house. The Kelsey Museum web exhibit "Wondrous Glass" explores both the technique used here and the many other uses to which glass was put in the ancient world.
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Pottery fragment with painted fish decoration |
Pottery fragment with impressed fish decoration |
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Dolphin painted on wall plaster |
Dolphins painted on wall plaster |
Dolphin painted on wall plaster |
In antiquity, dophins were considered to be friends of fishermen, and there are several stories about people rescued from drowning by dolphins. These whimsically painted dolphins probably decorated the walls of a house.
Go on to The Roman Food Industry.
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