Decorative Roman knives of the 4th century CE: Status Symbols or Ritual Implements?

 Another artifact from Dumbarton Oaks photographed by my good friend Allan Gluck - a knife, with an iron blade inserted into an ivory or bone handle carved with an image of Dionysos, or a youthful member of his retinue. The curators point out the figure is identified as Dionysos because of the presence of the panther and the grapes in his right hand but without other typical attributes, such as a vine-wreath crown or thyrsus they suggest it may be one of his followers instead.

Remains of an iron-bladed knife depicting and ivory or bone carved Dionysos and felines, Roman, 4th century CE, photographed at Dumbarton Oaks Museum in Washington D.C. by Allan Gluck.

"Stylistically, the figure resembles the Dionysos depicted on an ivory medicine box also in the Dumbarton Oaks collection which dates to the second half of the fourth-fifth century. The figure on the knife handle lacks the smoothness of the Dionysos carving, displaying more abrupt transitions between the planes of the torso and the thighs, which suggests an earlier date, in the fourth century. The medicine box is considered to be Egyptian, as are a number of other knives of this type, which date to approximately the same period; [so] this object is most likely Egyptian.

"The handle was initially identified as ivory, though subsequent examination by a conservator has raised the possibility that it could be bone. Both bone and ivory may be compromised at points of attachment with metal, and both are subject to environmental degradation; expanding and contracting in changing humidity and temperature conditions, the handle’s outer layers have been damaged, and are in many areas cracked and flaking. This type of damage makes an identification of the material difficult. However, both the front and back of the handle are pitted by a series of tiny indentations resembling foramina, the nutrient channels that characterize the vascular structure of bone."

Similar knives can be found in the collections of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, MD and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City although those knives depict Hercules rather than Dionysos. Each includes a panther-like creature, though, too.

Remains of an ivory-handled knife depicting Hercules and a feline at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Roman, 2nd to 4th century CE. Image courtesy of the museum.

Remains of a bone-handled knife depicting Hercules and a feline, Roman, 4th century CE, at the Walters Art Museum. Image courtesy of the museum.

"Given the value of the materials used, the particularity of form and elaborate nature of the carving, these were likely ceremonial implements, not intended for everyday use. Although generally identified as knives, their distinctive shape suggests a particular function, the exact nature of which remains uncertain."

I found pictures of the knives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Walters Art Museum decorated with felines and depictions of Hercules. The curators at the Walters Art Museum speculate Roman men liked to identify themselves with such heroic, mythological figures, just as women had their toilet articles decorated with images of Venus, the goddess of love. They point out these pieces could also have been used as strigils for scraping sweat and dirt from the skin after exercise or a steam bath.

I asked Bard if these knives could have been used for ritual sacrifices, but it, too, conjectured that the knives were probably used for personal use and display of social status.

"While Roman knives with handles depicting Hercules or Dionysus could have been used in some rituals, it's unlikely they were primarily designed for sacrifices. Here's why:

1. Material and Design:

The materials, ivory and bone, while valuable, weren't the most practical choice for sacrificial knives. Sacrificial knives were often disposable or used repeatedly, and sturdier materials like iron or bronze were preferred.

The intricate carvings and decorations on these knives would have been easily damaged during sacrifices, making them less suitable for such purposes.

2. Symbolic Depictions:

The depictions of Hercules and Dionysos are more suggestive of personal significance or social status than religious rituals. Hercules was associated with strength and heroism, while Dionysos represented festivity and wine. These themes are more relevant to individual identity or social display than sacrificial practices.

3. Archaeological Evidence:

While some archaeological finds associate similar knives with ritual contexts, these are often burials or funerary contexts, not necessarily sacrificial ones. The knives could have been placed as symbolic offerings or possessions of the deceased rather than tools for sacrifice.

Possible Ritual Uses:

Despite the points above, it's not entirely impossible that these knives played a role in some rituals. Here are some possibilities:

Offerings to deities: The knives could have been presented as offerings to gods like Hercules or Dionysos during rituals related to their respective domains.

Ritualistic meals: Knives with Dionysus imagery might have been used during feasts or celebrations associated with the god of wine.

Symbolic gestures: The act of using a knife with a specific deity's image could have held symbolic meaning within certain rituals, even if the knife itself wasn't used for sacrifices.

Ultimately, the exact role of these knives in rituals remains unclear. However, considering the materials, designs, and symbolic depictions, it's more likely they served practical and social purposes rather than being exclusively designed for sacrifices."