Cignus

Type of Roman Empire metal spoon From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cignus (Latin: cygnus, meaning 'swan'; pl.cigni) is a name used by archaeologists for a type of large Roman metal spoon[1] with a short, curved, handle often formed as the neck and head of a swan. Cigni have been found in a number of Roman sites from the 4th and 5th centuries CE, including the Thetford and Hoxne Hoards in England.[2] It is not known for certain what the Romans called these utensils, but there are references to cigni in Roman sources in appropriate contexts.[citation needed]

a short-handled spoon with fine detail marked in the bowl of the spoon of a cat-headed fish-tailed creature surrounded by fleur de lys
Silver-gilt cignus spoon with a bird-headed handle and bowl decorated with a mythical marine creature. 4th century CE from the Hoxne Hoard

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