Medallion with bust of Zeus and chain

This round silver plaque, wrought with an intricately decorated bust of Zeus (as Greek-speakers, even in the Roman period, would have known him), bears an informative set of votive inscriptions. Written in Greek letters formed by individual punch marks, an inscription divided by the bust states: "The community of Myangla, in the 155th year, dedicated this, costing 303 denarii including workmanship and all expenses, from their own money. Gaios made it." A second inscription, running around the bottom half of the rim, names the community leaders present at the dedication. Various factors, including the reported findspot, suggest that Myangla was a village located in what is now south-central Turkey. In antiquity, dates were generally counted forward from events of local significance. Depending from what incident the year 155 is calculated, the people of Myangla probably offered their gift to Zeus in either A.D. 70 or 180. The style of the bust seems to favor the latter dating. With its large, staring eyes and a body emerging ethereally out of the background, this image of Zeus belongs to a regional tradition of workmanship that exerted a powerful influence on the development of Byzantine art. The plaque probably formed part of a priestly costume, perhaps worn as a chest piece during ceremonial processions. Fixtures fastened to the rim may have attached to a chain hung around the priest's neck. Several links of a silver chain, decorated with laurel leaves, were found with the plaque, as was a slightly smaller roundel with a bust of the war god, Ares. This group of precious objects may have been stored together in the provincial community's central treasury or purposely buried as a hoard during a turbulent moment in history.