The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Figure leading and crowning an Ox [ARK00020]
Attached People: Collector (major) - Bargrave, John (1610-1680)Location(s): Current location at - Canterbury Cathedral Library and Archives (Library and/or Archive) -> Canterbury Cathedral (Institution)
Annotation:[Canterbury Catalog: Flat bronze plaque of a man (based on Bargrave's own label) leading and crowning an ox with a wreath. Bargrave's label still intact: "Fro Hercules Temple under/the Aventin hill at Rome/where he killed Cacus/where now stands St. Stevens Church/caled Sto Stefanodel Cacco./Hercules with the bull". In Roman mythology, Cacus was a fire-breathing monster and the son of Vulcan. He lived in a cave in the Palatine Hill in Italy, the future site of Rome. To the horror of nearby inhabitants, Cacus lived on human flesh and would nail the heads of victims to the doors of his cave. He was eventually overcome by Hercules.]