Ancient toddler's drinking cup on display at Cirencester's Corinium Museum

The cup was uncovered by archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology during excavations in 2011 on the site now occupied by St. James's Place. Located outside the Roman walls of Corinium, the area formed part of a Roman cemetery. While most burials contained only modest grave goods, one grave stood out for the richness of its contents.

Media attention at the time focused on the grave's most spectacular find, the beautiful and exceptionally rare Corinium Cockerel, a bronze and enamel figurine. However, the tettine, or toddler's drinking cup, is equally significant, offering a poignant glimpse into the lives and beliefs of a Roman family experiencing loss.

Since its discovery, the fragile vessel has remained in storage in a fragmented state. Thanks to funding from the Friends of Corinium Museum, the cup has now been carefully conserved and prepared for display.

Emma Stuart, Director of Corinium Museum, said: “Infant mortality during the Roman period was higher than it is today. The tettine, or toddler’s drinking cup, was discovered with the Corinium Cockerel and was likely placed with the burial to provide sustenance to the child’s spirit as it made its way to the Underworld.

"The parents also placed the cockerel, a representative of the god Mercury, to crow the way to the Underworld so that the child’s spirit didn’t get lost on the journey. It is a sad and touching story but one that is imbued with care and concern.”

Kathryn Allison from the Friends of Corinium Museum said: "We are proud to have funded the conservation of the tettine cup and to help reunite it with the Corinium Cockerel. We would like to thank all the Friends and supporters for their contributions.

"It is a wonderful example of how the Friends’ fundraising can truly bring to life the stories of the past, enriching the museum’s collection and deepening our understanding of the people who once lived here.”

The drinking cup was rebuilt and conserved by Lynne Edge of Edge Conservation and finished by Wiltshire’s Conservation and Museum Advisory Service team. The new display launched this month, coinciding with the Cirencester History Festival, which adopted the Corinium Cockerel as its iconic mascot. Visitors will be able to see the reunited objects together for the first time since their discovery.

Jess Yarrrow, Director of the Cirencester History Festival, said: “In 2024, we chose the Corinium Cockerel as our festival logo with great enthusiasm – it’s a nod to the ancient city beneath our feet, a tribute to extraordinary local craftsmanship and a reminder that history is about powerful human stories and connection across the centuries.

"To see it reunited with the conserved tettine cup after all this time is genuinely special and poignant. It connects us directly to the people who walked these streets two millennia ago, which is at the heart of everything our festival stands for.”

Corinium Museum is open Monday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Although many events at Cirencester History Festival have sold out, there are still tickets left for some fascinating talks, films and family activities. For more details, visit the Cirencester History Festival website https://cirencesterhistoryfestival.org/.