Miniature lead mirror frames from Roman-Byzantine Palestine and the Caesarea Maritima workshop

This paper presents a new typology of lead frames of miniature mirrors from the Roman and Byzantine periods in Israel and neighbouring regions. Such mirrors, made of various materials, are associated with magic and considered apotropaic. We focus on frames produced using the openwork technique, here termed ‘lace style decoration’. These mirrors were locally produced, as evidenced by their consistent style and the moulds found in the region. Of the 36 mirrors presented here, 16 were found at Caesarea Maritima, the capital of the province, and some are published here for the first time. This paper presents five distinct types of these lead mirror frames, each with its own regional distribution and date. Furthermore, the Caesarea workshop is discussed in relation to other crafts in the city. Lastly, these mirrors are examined in light of their use as apotropaic vehicles.