MUSAS Ref. No.:

CAPCOL-49

Inv. No.

Description

Bronze cannon, to be classified as a culverin due to its dimensions.

A zoomorphic decoration that can be interpreted as a griffon protrudes in the round near the breech ring.

The reinforcing ring is damaged due to the detonation of a charge. The external part of the reinforcing ring is covered by a grid of lozenges with a slightly engraved surface.

In the upper area, between the trunnions, there is the following inscription in Latin in relief:

ARCI * DE * CO

MI IBVS

OPVS

that can be read as “Opera di Marco di Conti”, a Venetian founder active during the first half of the XVI century.

The part of the muzzle is also richly decorated. Besides geometric motifs, there is also a shield with a cross on it, containing three probable ears of wheat which emerge from a mountain with three peaks; the shield is encircled on the sides and on the top by four ribbon handles and holds up at its centre a vegetable element with lanceolate leaves, while two capital Gs are placed by its sides. The identification of the family name reported on the shield was possible thanks to its certain Venetian origin; it belongs, in fact, to the Garzoni, a branch of a noble family that moved from Bologna to Venice in the XIII century, accumulating wealth and public positions while lending money.

The attribution of this artillery piece to the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, as another emblem on the upper part of the muzzle would suggest, indicates that the ordering party can be identified with Fra’ Zaccaria Garzoni.

Just above the coat of arms and just before the moulded muzzle, there are Roman numbers separated by rosettes M * D * XVIII that indicate the date of casting, i.e. 1518.

The muzzle is composed of a curved moulding decorated with acanthus leaves.

Dimensions

Conventional length (from the moulded muzzle up to the breech ring) cm 280, calibre mm 120

Materials

Bronze

Location

Outer yard of the National Archaeological Museum of Capo Colonna (under restoration)

Origin

Capo Rizzuto

Dating

1518 A.D.

Biological degradation

The bronze artefact is covered for about half of its surface by whitish bioencrustations of variable thicknesses, made up of vegetable and animal organisms. Among the latter, calcareous tubes belonging to sedentary Polychaeta of different taxa are widespread. In addition, there are colonies of Bryozoans and cup-shaped colonies attributable to Anthozoa (corals).

References

RIDELLA, LARATTA 2014, pp. 63-81

REFERENCES

Ridella G.R., Laratta F., 2014, Un cannone veneziano fuso nel 1518 per gli Ospedalieri di San Giovanni a Rodi, dal mare della Calabria (loc. Porticciolo, Isola di Capo Rizzuto – KR), in BELTRAME C. (a cura di) Archeologia dei relitti post-medievali, Archeologia Postmedievale 18, pp. 63-81.