Abstract:

In 1991 a collection of architectural terracotta from the Roman villa of El Vilarenc came to light, as well as a few others from Tarraco. They were identified as Campana lastra. Five years later, six more examples were discovered during the excavation of the Plaça de la Font in Tarragona. The collection now consists of 14/15 pieces with four different inconographic motifs: “Women flanking a candelabrum” “Theseus recognised by his father”, “The adorning of a Hermes” and “Palaestra portico scene!”. Ther interest lies in the following factors: their absolute exceptionality (They are extremely rare outside of Italy), their geographical concentration in the capital and its territory, and their precise chronological and cultural ascription. Archaeometric analyses have revealed a Latian origin for one and a local manufacture for the rest. This fact allows us to propose the subject of the adoption of iconographic models from the capital (Rome) in post-Augustan Tarraco.