Cornu / Buccina question

[Graham Sumner]

Hi

Does anyone know an old publication where this illustration of a cornu or buccina might have first appeared?

Alternatively does anyone know if there is an original Roman source for an instrument with this animal head shaped bell?

Many thanks for any assistance.

Graham.

[Decebalus]

Hi Graham,

this seems to be the original publication.

But no idea about the roman source. Perhaps a misinterpretation by the artist.

[Sextus Saturninus]

Looks like an old 1600-1700's illustration of a cornu. The artist probably had just based his cornu of Trajan's Column or some other monument and added some features. Also, look at his sandals, they do not look like any Roman shoes I can think of, probably another misinterpretation.

[Graham Sumner]

Thanks Andreas!

Graham,

[Renatus]

But no idea about the roman source. Perhaps a misinterpretation by the artist.

Also, look at his sandals, they do not look like any Roman shoes I can think of, probably another misinterpretation.

I doubt whether misinterpretation comes into it. Illustrators of the 17th and 18th centuries had their own ideas of what a Roman soldier should look like, usually entirely fanciful. Consider this title page from a book of 1616:

[attachment=11495]LaMiliceRomaine.JPG[/attachment]

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Probably the missinterpretation are mixing a roman cornu with a carnyx or similar celtic instruments. Both of them taken from monuments as triumphal arcs, full of weapons trophy.