Roman blue glass bottle with a bust of Janus, 200 A.D.
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This bottle is very select since its surface is not smooth, but it presents a body with relief that, concretely, represents the double face of the god Janus. It is a bifront representation that represents a bust facing another from behind. The god Janus is the god of the beginning and the end and he is usually represented with two faces, in many occasions with different ages. The Romans worshipped this god because he assured them a happy ending. This bottle also stands out for its intense blue colour.
Both for the quality of the glass used and for the importance of the design that presents this bottle would be a luxury object made to be acquired by the wealthiest families of the Ancient Rome. It was a very expensive material due to its complicated composition and the long manufacturing process it required.
The first and second centuries A.D. belong to the period known as High Imperial Rome, that is, the period of splendour of the Roman Empire. It is a flourishing period thanks to the arrival to power of Augustus, who promoted powerful changes in the Empire that had an impact on Roman art. During this period, the aesthetics of sculpture came from the Hellenistic world and, with respect to typologies, historical relief and portraits predominated, which sought to promote the most important characters or events.
