The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Key with Crescent Detail [ARK00349]
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: Small key with end in shape of crescent moon. From the bundle of papers, notes and labels which came with the collection is one which reads: "A leather purse with beads, a brass Hercules, a dolphin, and an old key from the temple of Luna", of which this key must be. Luna (the equivalent to the Greek, Selene) was the personified goddess of the moon. Later she is identified with Diana and Hecate. Her temple, on the Aventine Hill, was erected in the 6th century BC but was destroyed by the great fire during Emperor Nero's reign.] (approx 1st cent AD)