Ship Forearms with Open Hands

These forearms with open hands adorned a ship from Caligula’s reign (37–41 AD). Crafted with burin and chisel, they were symmetrically placed in pairs, each side featuring a left and a right hand. Positioned horizontally with palms angled and thumbs up, they served an apotropaic function, warding off evil and symbolically protecting the vessel. This reflects the Roman belief in symbols ensuring safety and fortune.