The only example known on the island, the oscillum, a decorative marble element kept in the Antiquarium Turritano museum, ended up on the page of the Regional Directorate of Sardinian museums . Dating back to 200 AD, it was found in the Maetzke baths, in the archaeological area of Turris Libisonis in Porto Torres.
The oscillum is a mask or votive disc that was originally hung from sacred trees, therefore with a ritual and magical meaning used on the occasion of festivals connected to the cult of Dionysus.
Later it became part of Roman decorative art and, as an ornamental element, it was hung on the lintels of houses to decorate open spaces . The oscillum turritano presents two deliberately different stylistic canons.
On one side is depicted a dancing youth, in low relief and in neo-attic style, while on the other is depicted a male aquatic deity with a thick beard and hair , with features typical of the beginning of the 3rd century. The hole passing through the centre, ie in the mouth, indicates a subsequent re-use in a fountain, around the 1st-2nd century AD, probably that of the baths in which it was found.
It is the only example in Sardinia , while other more numerous specimens of oscilla are those from Ostia, Pompeii and Herculaneum.
