COPENHAGEN.- The unique Roman silver treasure from Berthouville in France has previously only been exhibited in the USA and France. Now, exceptionally, it is on view in Denmark. 

It is the 3rd century AD and the Roman Empire extends across vast areas of Europe. In these occupied regions, for better or for worse, the Romans spread their culture. This also includes a decadent proclivity for celebration and excess. 

From 14th March 2018 visitors to the Glyptotek can give their imagination free rein as regards celebration and excess at the exhibition ”High on Luxury. Lost Treasures from the Roman Empire”. Here the Glyptotek is presenting the Berthouville Treasure along with a number of other luxury artifacts from the Roman Empire. To create the perfect Imperial Roman atmosphere in the exhibition, one can, while moving around between the ancient goblets, jugs and dishes, listen to podcast magazine Third Ear’s soundtrack, which takes the visitors back 2000 years to a feast at the home of the nouveau riche Trimalchio, which offers all one could desire of Roman decadence and ferocity. The Danish version of the soundtrack has been recorded by Danish actor Thure Lindhardt.

The Berthouville Treasure. Roman Silver and gold. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris.

Off to a Party with the Romans 
Assuming one were fortunate enough to gain admission to a celebration with the Roman upper class the menu might stretch to such specialties as flamingo tongues, peahen eggs and dormice sprinkled with honey. And everything accompanied by an endless supply of wine. Everything was served from jugs and goblets decorated with dramatic scenes from Greek mythology. The exquisite silverware, and, not least, the motifs with which it was decorated, played a key role in conversation at such gatherings. By displaying one’s knowledge of the myths behind the scenes depicted it was possible to demonstrate one’s cultural sophistication and intellectual prowess – or appear a complete fool through one’s lack of such knowledge. 

The Dedications of Quintus Domitius Tutus. Roman Silver and gold. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris.

The Berthouville Treasure 
Because of its scale, beauty and the fact that it is preserved in its totality the Berthouville Treasure has attained legendary status. It was discovered in 1830 near the River Seine in northwestern France – a region which, as a Roman colony, has been given an extensive description by Caesar in his account of the Gallic Wars. 

Subsequent excavations have demonstrated that the treasure came from a temple to the Roman god Mercury and can be dated to the 1st to 2nd centuries AD. During times of unrest, possibly in the 3rd century, it was concealed under the tiled pavement in the temple precinct but was apparently never retrieved when the temple was, at some point, burned down, probably during the repeated barbarian attacks on the Roman Empire. 

The treasure consists of some 90 prestige objects including everything from goblets to dishes and silver statues up to an impressive 50 cm in height. Fortunately for posterity the 25 kg of silver came to the notice of, and was purchased by the French state before anyone had the chance to melt it down or divide it up. 

For four years the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris, working jointly with The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, have been cleaning and restoring the objects so they can now be exhibited in all their glory.

Mercury, 175–225. Roman Silver and gold. Object: H: 56.3 x Diam.: 16 cm, Weight: 2772 g (22 3/16 x 6 5/16 in., 6.11 lb.) Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.1.

Cup with Centaurs (one of a pair), 1–100 AD, Roman silver and gold, Bibliothèque nationale de France, département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris, Paris VEX.2014.1.6.

Cup with Centaurs (one of a pair), 1–100 AD, Roman silver and gold, Bibliothèque nationale de France, département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris, Paris VEX.2014.1.7.

Pitcher with Scenes from the Trojan War. Dedicated by Quintus Domitius Tutus. Inscribed: “MERCVRIO AVGVSTO Q DOMITIVS TVTVS EX VOTO”, Roman, A.D. 1-100. Silver and gold; H: 29.9 cm; Wt: 1,044 grams. (Achilles dragging the body of Hector around the walls of Troy). Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris. VEX.2014.1.4

Pitcher with Scenes from the Trojan War, “The Ransom of Hector,” 1–100 Roman Sliver and gold Object: H: 29.9 x W: 14.5 x Circumference: 42 cm, Weight: 1044 g (11 3/4 x 5 11/16 x 16 9/16 in., 2.3 lb.) Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.4

Pitcher with Scenes from the Trojan War, “Achilles Dragging Hector before the Walls of Troy,” 1–100 Roman Silver and gold Object: H: 31.5 x Circumference: 44 cm, Weight: 1159 g (12 3/8 x 17 5/16 in., 2.56 lb.) Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.5

Pitcher with Scenes from the Trojan War (detail), “The Death of Achilles,” 1–100 Roman Silver and gold Object: H: 31.5 x Circumference: 44 cm, Weight: 1159 g (12 3/8 x 17 5/16 in., 2.56 lb.) Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.5

Beaker with Imagery Related to Isthmia and Corinth. Dedicated by Quintus Domitius Tutus. Inscribed: “MERCVRIO Q DOMITIVS TVTVS VSLM”, Roman, A.D. 1-100. Silver and gold; H: 12.5 cm; Diam: 10.3 cm; Wt: 463 grams. Modiolus. Poseidon (Neptune) and Demeter (Ceres). Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris. VEX.2014.1.10

Beaker with Imagery Related to Isthmia and Corinth (rollout detail), Roman, A.D. 1-100; silver and gold. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris. VEX.2014.1.10. © The J. Paul Getty Museum

Cup with Masks, 1–100. Roman Silver. Object: H: 15.8 x W: 19 x Diameter: 13.3 cm, Weight: 852 g (6 1/4 x 7 1/2 x 5 1/4 in., 1.88 lb.) Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.9. © The J. Paul Getty Museum

Bowl with a Medallion of Omphale, 1st century Roman Silver Object: H: 8.2 x Diam.: 28.9 cm, Weight: 892 g (3 1/4 x 11 3/8 in., 1.97 lb.) Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.11. 

Offering Bowl with a Medallion of Mercury in a Rural Shrine(detail). Dedicated by Julia Sibylla. Inscribed: “DEO MERC IVL SIBYLLA DSDD”. Roman, A.D. 175-225. Silver and gold; Diam: (bowl) 21 cm; Wt: 572 grams. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris. VEX.2014.1.18. 

Plate with the Embassy to Achilles (The Shield of Scipio), 375–400. Roman Silver and gold Object: H: 71 cm, Weight: 10.26 kg (27 15/16 in., 22.62 lb.) Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.94. 

Offering Bowl with a Medallion of Mercury and Maia or Rosmerta (during conservation, left side cleaned), 150–225. Roman Silver and gold. Object: H: 5.4 x Diam.: 22.2 cm, Weight: 694 g (2 1/8 x 8 3/4 in., 1.53 lb.) Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.17. 

Plate with Hercules Wrestling the Nemean Lion, 500–600, Roman. Silver. Object: H: 49 cm, Weight: 3.151 kg (19 5/16 in., 6.9467 lb.) Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.96. 

Offering Bowl with Bacchus, Hercules, and Coins (The Patera of Rennes), Roman, about A.D. 210; gold. H: 4 cm; Diam.: 25 cm; Wt: 1315 grams. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris. VEX.2014.1.125. 

Signed by Pamphilos, Gem with Achilles Playing the Cithara, 75–50 BC, amethyst intaglio, Bibliothèque nationale de France, département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris, VEX.2014.1.131. 

Cameo of Jupiter (The Cameo of Chartres), about 50, Roman. Sardonyx set in fourteenth-century gold and enamel mount. Object: H: 15.2 x L: 6.5 cm (6 x 2 9/16 in.), Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris, VEX.2014.1.104 . 

Cameo of Emperor Trajan, Roman, about A.D. 100. Sardonyx set in a seventeenth-century gold, enamel, and ruby mount H: 8.8 cm; L: 6.3 cm. Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris. VEX.2014.1.103.

Perfume Flask with the Seasons, 25 B.C.–A.D. 50, Roman. Cameo glass with modern resin neck and enameled metal foot. Object: H: 15.5 x Diam. (foot): 3.2 cm (6 1/8 x 1 1/4 in.). Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.172. 

The Treasure of Naix, eight necklaces, Roman, A.D. 175–225. Gold, glass, amethyst, pearl, emerald, and sardonyx, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX 2014.1.134, .138-143, .145. 

Aureus of Hadrian, 134–138, Roman. Gold. Object: Diam.: 1.8 cm, Weight: 7.2 g (11/16 in., 0.02 lb.). Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.112.

Gem with Emperor Commodus, about 192, Roman. Gold and amethyst. Object: H: 3 x L: 2.3 cm (1 3/16 x 7/8 in.) Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.130.

Ring, about 1–200, Roman. Gold, pearls and emerald. Object: H: 1.7 cm (11/16 in.) Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.152.

Ring with a Double Portrait, 200–300, Roman. Cornelian intaglio and gold. Object (ring): H: 1.8 x L: 2.1 cm (11/16 x 13/16 in.) Object (intaglio): H: 1.4 x L: 1.9 cm (9/16 x 3/4 in.) Bibliothèque nationale de France, Département des monnaies, médailles et antiques, Paris VEX.2014.1.157.