Abstract
Abstract In 1955, a figure, representing a comic actor, was discovered on a spoil heal in the Roman Fort of Iža. It is a unique find without close parallels in the whole of the Roman Empire, making it difficult to determine from which object it was derived or what was its function. The results of new research are presented here and demonstrate the object is a fragment of a luxury, figural knife handle made from bone rather than ivory. It was probably produced in a provincial workshop under a Mediterranean influence where similar figures, though from different materials, occur throughout the second century.
Highlights
The Roman fort at Iža lies in the location Leányvár, a short distance from the town of Komárno (Figure 1)
In place of the destroyed earth-and-timber fort, and likely in short time, the Romans built a stone fort surrounded by V-shaped ditches
It contained baths in the south-eastern corner. Another structure related to the fort was building I, dating from the late second century to the first half of the third century, which was probably destroyed in a Germanic attack during the rule of Emperor Gallienus (AD 253–268), when the fort at Iža was likely damaged
Summary
The Roman fort at Iža lies in the location Leányvár, a short distance from the town of Komárno (Figure 1). In place of the destroyed earth-and-timber fort, and likely in short time, the Romans built a stone fort surrounded by V-shaped ditches. It contained baths in the south-eastern corner. Excavation results have not yet clarified why the stone fort, an important frontier stronghold until the end of Valentinian I’s reign, disappeared. It probably did so after an extensive fire towards the end of his rule. This examination allowed us to confirm and correct some of these interpretations
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