Journal - Comune di Monteleone di Spoleto

wood, resulting in prolonged contact with moisture in these
areas. The outline of the ram that was attached at the left
end of the revetment results from the solder/solder-related
corrosion on the surface.
Technical observations. all the nail holes running along the
edges seem ancient. as concerns the recumbent ram, it also
is ancient and was attached with solder. as indicated for
cat. 11, the placement of this element does not seem to date
from the original fabrication of the chariot but to a later
phase, for which see cat. 13 and Section iii.d.
Repoussé, tracing, and chasing. The same tools and procedures
were used on cats. 11 and 12.
Alloy analysis of the bronze (percent by weight). Frieze:
Fe .08, Co nd, ni .01, Cu 89.2, Zn nd, as .05, ag nd,
Sn 10.7, Sb .01, Pb nd; 1903 addition to lower corner:
Fe .12, Co .01, ni .01, Cu 88.3, Zn nd, as .05, ag nd,
Sn 11.5, Sb .02, Pb nd.
13. Right recumbent ram (Figures V.59, V.60)
H. 1¼ in. (3.2 cm), l. 3 3⁄8 in. (8.5 cm), W. 1 3⁄8 in. (3.5 cm)
Description. The recumbent ram is embossed in high relief.
it originally rested on a base that was then cut off in antiquity,
together with the tail; its head is turned outward and
faces right. Six small original nail holes run along the surviving
part of the base.
Condition. The surface is primarily black corrosion mixed
with brown tarnish overall, except for the back of the body,
with a massive layer of green corrosion and some blistering
and loss; there is olive green corrosion on the back of the
body. The interior surface displays green and black incrustations.
There is solder along the underside of the flange; it
also appears on the bottom edge of the flange at the neck,
as well as on the exterior beside the cut on the rump.
Technical observations. The thickness of the bronze sheet is
the same as that of the three main panels. The ancient cut
at the base was made to fit the figure to the smooth surface
of the frieze (cat. 11): in particular, the notch in the area
where the tail once was slightly cuts into the panther’s head
on the frieze. For the hypothesis that this ram and its counterpart
(cat. 14) originally occupied a different position on
the chariot, see Section iii.d.
Repoussé and tracing. The ram is executed in repoussé and
is not finished with tracing.
14. Left recumbent ram (Figure V.61)
H. 1 1⁄8 in. (2.8 cm), l. 3 1⁄2 in. (9 cm), W. 1 ¼ in. (3.3 cm)
Description. This ram resembles cat. 13, but its head is
turned to the left. The ancient base is cut in the same manner
and still has five nail holes.
Condition. The surface is primarily black corrosion mixed
with brown tarnish overall except for the back of the body,
with a massive layer of green corrosion and some blistering
V.59 right recumbent ram
V.60 right recumbent ram, back
V.61 left recumbent ram
and loss; there is thick black corrosion on the head, with the
disturbed surface showing bare metal; olive green corrosion
occurs on the surface, at the rear left leg. The interior surface
is encrusted with green, black, and red corrosion. There is
solder along the edge of the right side of the body, as well as
on the back of the head, with the odd patch on the surface.
Technical observations. in addition to the features reported
for cat. 13, the ram has three tiny holes at the top of the
The Monteleone Chariot V: Catalogue 91