Daily Life/1
1.
Marble Sculptures (1st–2nd Century AD).
These marble sculptures were likely part of the decoration in a wealthy domus from the 1st to the 2nd century AD. Notable pieces include a female herm with archaizing features, a young Bacchus/Dionysus head crowned with flowers and grape clusters, and a small yellow marble head of Hercules, which may have been used as supports—possibly for tables. An Egyptian-style bas-relief with a landscape scene recalls ornamental panels that were frequently mounted on various supports, as seen in Pompeian frescoes, where they are often placed on herms in garden enclosures.
2.
Fine Bronze Furnishings.
Among the most impressive finds are several finely crafted bronze pieces, such as a statuette of a soldier holding a shield (likely a furniture leg), a fleeing soldier, and a crouching lion, dating from the 2nd to the 3rd centuries AD. A small putto, riding an animal (perhaps a dolphin or a wild beast), is from the late Hellenistic period.
Wooden furniture, including tables, chairs, footrests, chests, and cabinets, was often enhanced with carved bone inlays, and bronze appliqués featuring Medusa heads, satyrs, the goddess Minerva, and small animals—particularly mules and panthers, linked to Dionysian imagery. Among the most notable pieces are busts of an elderly Silenus and a young man (1st century BC – 1st century AD), a matron (1st–2nd century AD), and a soldier (3rd–4th century AD). These busts were likely displayed on the headboards of triclinium couches—prestigious furniture items in wealthy Roman homes.
3.
Lighting in the Domus.
Oil lamps were a common feature in every room of a domus, placed on dedicated stands—often simple wooden structures—or on elaborate candelabras. Some were also suspended from various supports.
Oil lamps were found in large numbers throughout the domus, often placed on wooden stands or elegant candelabras, and sometimes suspended from various supports.
Bronze candelabras typically feature three clawed feet supporting a shaft with a dish at the top, though more elaborate examples include small statuettes and apotropaic bells. One example from Veleia features a vine branch, from which two small lamps hang like clusters of grapes, inspired by Hellenistic designs. One particular example from Veleia features a vine branch, from which two small lamps hang like grape clusters—a design inspired by Hellenistic prototypes. Another artifact, a small bronze tripod (late 2nd century AD), may have served as a candle holder.
Bronze lamps are rare, while terracotta ones are more common. A well-known type is the Firmalampen, produced between AD 60 and the 2nd century, with stamps from northern Italian workshops. Round- and heart-shaped spout lamps began in the 1st century AD, becoming widely used in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, particularly in central Italy. One such lamp on display features a goat, associated with Dionysian themes.
Another interesting find is a mold for producing lamps with erotic scenes, a popular motif at the time. A gladiator-helmet-shaped lamp (2nd century AD) likely had ties to public spectacles in the forum, serving either as a votive offering or a simple souvenir.
4.
Glass and Tableware.
Glass was widely used by the Romans, who were skilled in various production techniques. Artifacts found at Veleia span the city’s history, including ribbed green and blue glass cups from the 1st century AD, cubic bottle rims and handles from the 3rd century AD, and colorful mosaic glass fragments from the early 1st century AD.
The Romans also created glass rods for mixing cosmetics or pharmaceuticals, as well as intricate bronze vessels, including a high-quality silver-inlaid pitcher, a saucepan, and a spoon, alongside richly decorated handles and bases featuring satyr heads, masks, floral motifs, and bucrania (ox skulls).
Ceramic tableware, though more affordable, was by far the most common and successful Roman product, especially in the early and middle Imperial periods. Among the finds are red-coated cups and plates with relief decorations, produced in Italy (from the Tiberian era to the early 2nd century) and in Gaul (1st–3rd centuries AD).
A distinctive type of thin-walled drinking cup, made of gray clay with a nearly black slip and decorated with incisions or relief elements, was common in northern Italy from the Augustan period to the early 2nd century.
5.
Everyday Materials and Construction Techniques.
Less luxurious materials shed light on both construction techniques and daily life in Veleia. Numerous bricks, some stamped with the manufacturer’s mark, were found, along with bronze hinges, handles, latch bolts shaped like fingers, locks, and keys.
Glass window panes were produced by pouring molten glass onto a flat surface, then pulling the edges with tongs or other tools to fit a mold.