Roman Altar: Ara Casali

The dedicatory inscription is framed with a wreath of oak leaves. On the top the radiate sun-god (Sol, left corner) riding in a four horse chariot (quadriga) and the Roman Vulcan (the Greek Hephaistos, right) with his blacksmith's tongs, look over a scene of a reclining Mars and Venus. The latter has a chain running from her right wrist. Their bed (lectus) is flanked by two erotes (putti); the one on the left looks imploringly upward. The scene depicts the trap set by Vulcan to catch Mars and Venus in flagrante delicto.