{Illustration: THE GREAT CRATER
Found at Hildesheim in 1868. This and a number of other pieces form
the collection known as The Hildesheim Treasure, now at the Kaiser
Friedrich Museum, Berlin.
This wine crater is entirely of silver, a piece of supreme workmanship
of Roman origin. Very delicate decoration, anticipating the
Renaissance: Winged griffins and other monsters, half ox, half lion,
at the base; aquatic animals, genii angling and spearing fish.
There is a second vessel inside, acting as a liner, to take the weight
of the fluid off the decorated bowl. The complete weight is 9451.8
gr., but the inner liner is stamped CVM BASI PONDO XXXXI--41 pounds
with the base. The weight of silver pieces was inscribed as a check on
the slaves.
The bowl is 0.36 meter (about 14-1/4 inches) in height and 0.353 meter
in diameter. It stands on the tripod which is depicted separately.}
{Illustration: THE DIONYSOS CUP
The Dionysos head in the center and the two satyrs are modeled
realistically by a most able artist. Lion and lioness heads on the
other side. Hildesheim Treasure.}