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Parabiago Plate

The Parabiago plate, also known as the Parabiago patera, is an ancient Roman circular silver plate depicting mythological figures. It was found in an ancient Roman cemetery at Parabiago, near Milan, in 1907, and is now in the Archaeological Museum of Milan. The plate shows Cybele with her consort Attis in a vast cosmic setting with the sun, moon, earth, sea, time, and the seasons. At the time of its discovery, it was thought to have been used as a lid for a funerary amphora. Its date remains uncertain: earlier scholars favored the 2nd century CE, while technical analyses suggest a 4th–5th century provenance.

The Parabiago Plate, a gold-toned circular relief with a central chariot scene and surrounding mythological figures.
The Parabiago Plate shows an ornate circular relief filled with mythological figures, including a central chariot scene.
March 2012 © · Attribution
Parabiago Plate with a circular relief of mythological figures, including a central chariot drawn by lions.
The Parabiago Plate shows an elaborate circular relief filled with mythological figures and a lion-drawn chariot.
October 2016 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Parabiago Plate, a large circular silver relief showing a deity riding a chariot pulled by lions, surrounded by figures and celestial motifs.
The Parabiago Plate features a densely detailed mythological scene in high relief.
March 2012 © · Attribution
The Parabiago Plate, a circular gold-toned relief plate with mythological figures and animals, displayed on a stand.
The Parabiago Plate shown upright on a stand, with intricate mythological relief decoration.
March 2012 © · Attribution
The Parabiago Plate displayed upright in a museum case, showing a detailed high-relief mythological scene on a circular metal dish.
The Parabiago Plate on display in the Archaeological Museum in Milan.
March 2012 © · Attribution

Identification

TitleParabiago plate
TypeRoman silver patera/plate
Alternative namesParabiago patera; patera di Parabiago; Pátera de Parabiago

Historical context

Culture/periodAncient Roman; Roman Empire
DateMid-4th century, probably the second half of the 4th century; some earlier scholarship dated it to the 2nd century CE, while technical analyses suggested the 4th–5th centuries
Patronage contextProbably commissioned by an educated member of the pagan aristocracy; associated with the pagan neoplatonic revival and the reign of Emperor Julian (360–363 AD)

Creator

MakerRoman goldsmiths; possibly made within Roman craftsmanship of the period

Discovery and provenance

Discovery date1907
Discovery placeAn ancient Roman cemetery at Parabiago, Province of Milan, Lombardy, Italy, during excavation of the foundations of Villa Gajo owned by Senator Felice Gajo
Original find contextFound as a cover for a cremation urn, a sawn amphora containing grave goods
Early interpretation of useThought at discovery to have been used as a lid for a funerary amphora
Post-discovery historyKept in the discoverer's house for several years, entered the possession of the Sovraintendenza in 1929, and was later deposited in the Civic Archaeological Museum of Milan

Location and ownership

Original/related historical contextThe object later reached the Milan area; scholars have compared its context with the reign of Eugenius (392–394 AD) and with the time of Ambrose, when celebrations of Cybele are attested
Current locationCivic Archaeological Museum of Milan

Physical characteristics

DiameterAbout 39 cm
WeightAbout 3.5 kg

Materials

Primary materialSilver
Surface treatmentPartial mercury gilding; former vermeil highlights

Technique

Manufacturing techniqueLost-wax casting, chased decoration, and engraving

Appearance

Overall descriptionA high-value ritual plate with an allegorical, mythological and cosmological scene
Main sceneCybele and Attis triumph in a chariot drawn by four lions
Cybele depictionSeated on the lion-drawn chariot, wearing an embroidered tunic, mural crown, and Phrygian cap, holding a scepter and a shield, and leaning on a tympanum
Attis depictionYoung companion of Cybele, wearing a Phrygian cap, holding a curved shepherd's staff (pedum) and a syrinx
Accompanying figuresThree Corybantes dancing and striking shields decorated with stars
Upper registerHelios and Selene in sun and moon chariots; Phosphoros and Hesperos with torches
Middle registerAion, symbol of eternal time, supported by Atlas and surrounded by the Zodiac; below are a grasshopper or cricket, a lizard, and an obelisk entwined by a serpent
Lower registerFour putti representing the seasons, plus a river deity with a nymph, Oceanus and Tethys emerging from the waters, and Tellus with a cornucopia, serpent, and two putti

Iconography and meaning

MeaningThe imagery refers to Cybele and Attis as guarantors of cosmic order, cyclical renewal, life, and prosperity; it has strong cosmological and religious-philosophical significance and may allude to a theatrical performance or the Hilaria festival procession
Religious contextAssociated with the cult of Cybele and the continuation of pagan cult in late-imperial Milan; the cult is also documented in the Milan area by epigraphic evidence

History and restoration

Use tracesTraces of use survive on parts of the object, supporting a practical sacrificial or ritual function rather than merely display

Significance

Historical significanceImportant for the history of late-imperial Milan; it reflects pagan worship, the wealth of suburban villas, and the quality of luxury craftsmanship in the period