Julia Domna Headpot

Details

This fabulous head pot replica is based on one of the 50 head pots or face urns found in the city of York, which was established as a city in 71 AD by the Romans, and is a true gem. What sets this pot apart is not just its beauty but also the fact that despite being fragmented, all its pieces were recovered, allowing archaeologists to painstakingly reconstruct it to its original form. A testament to the resilience of ancient artefacts, surviving centuries in the earth.

This remarkable head pot replica is believed to depict Empress Julia Domna, the Syrian wife of Emperor Septimus Severus, who visited York between 208-211 AD. This identification is based on a strong resemblance between the pot and the images of Julia Domna from coins produced during her lifetime. The pot's hairstyle and facial details mirror those on the coins, which were minted from 193 AD until the death of her son in 217 AD.

It is thought that this style of head pot was first made in the city by soldier potters from North Africa around the late second to the third century, perhaps to celebrate this power couple and their presence in the city.

This vessel was discovered in 1888 and is part of the collection at York Museum. 

'Add To Cart' items are ready to send straight away. Please be aware that if bought alongside 'Pre-order' items, your order will be sent when all items are ready. 

'Pre-order' items are made to order, and we will dispatch them as soon as we have handcrafted them for you; this usually takes 90 days, but international orders can take a little longer.

Materials

Earthenware, terracotta reduction fired. 

Dimensions

Approx. 265 mm tall, 175 mm diameter

Production

This replica Roman pot has been hand-made in Northumberland by Potted History, based on an original artefact. It has been fired to a temperature between 800 & 1000 Centigrade to emulate the same techniques the original potters would have employed nearly two thousand years ago. This process often results in surface colour and texture variations, as is common with the original Roman pottery and gives each piece its unique character.

Health and Safety

As with all of our museum-quality replicas, this piece has been fired to achieve an authentic finish. Like the original, it is unglazed and has no modern finishes applied. As a result, this pot does not meet modern health and safety standards, and although decorative, we recommend that you refrain from using this pot should not be used for its original purpose.

Postage

All items are sent using a second-class postal service; if you wish to have an item sent first-class, please get in touch with us for a quote. Many Thanks