Spoon with Saint Paul as an Athlete (Cleveland Museum of Art 1964.39)
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
350–400
Silver spoons with swan neck handles (ligulae) were popular in the Late Roman Empire. This late antique spoon is unique because it is decorated with the nude figure of a victorious athlete identified in an inscription as PAVLVS (Paul). It is tempting to interpret the juxtaposition of the name with a classical representation of an athlete as a subtle allusion to a passage in Saint Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 9:24-27), in which the apostle characterizes himself as an "athlete of Christ." While this interpretation may imply that the spoon’s owner was a Christian, it does not imply a religious function for the object, which was likely used for display or fine dining. Cleveland Museum of Art object 1964.39: Spoon with Saint Paul as an Athlete, 350–400. Late Roman Empire, perhaps Syria, early Byzantine, 4th century. Silver, silver gilt, and niello; overall: 4.6 x 5.6 cm (1 13/16 x 2 3/16 in.). Inscribed: the interior of the bowl contains an inscription filled with niello giving the Latin name of "PAVLVS.". Details are those of this museum object; how far it represents a wider type has not been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 4
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- silver, silver gilt, and niello
- Dimensions
- Overall: 4.6 x 5.6 cm (1 13/16 x 2 3/16 in.)
- Measurements
- Overall: 4.6 x 5.6 cm (1 13/16 x 2 3/16 in.)
- Material and technique
- silver, silver gilt, and niello
Design
- Inscription
- the interior of the bowl contains an inscription filled with niello giving the Latin name of "PAVLVS."
Identification
- Date recorded
- 350–400
- Culture period
- late Roman Empire, perhaps Syria, early Byzantine, 4th century
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Museum object number
- 1964.39
- Published references
- The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1966 . Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1966. Reproduced: p. 36 · The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1969 . Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1969. Reproduced: p. 36 · Wixom, William D. “A Mystery Spoon from the Fourth Century.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 57, no. 5 (May 1970): 141–148. Mentioned and reproduced: p. 141-143, figs. 1-3 · The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978 . Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 34 · Cleveland Museum of Art, and Holger A. Klein . Sacred Gifts and Worldly Treasures: Medieval Masterworks from the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 44-45, no. 5 · Hervas, Rocio Gordillo, Eduardo Ferrer Albelda, Alvaro Pereira Delgado. "Compitiendo Para los Dioses: Los Rituales Agonisticos en el Mundo Antiguo," Spal Monografias Arqueologia XLIII Sevilla, 2022. cover
- Museum classification
- Metalwork
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: this record describes a single museum object; confirm maker, marks and date against silver and metalwork references.