Neptune and Oceanus in Romano-British Mosaics: A Special Case?

The distinction between depictions of Neptune and Oceanus is usually clear. Neptune has a trident, while Oceanus has crustacean claws emerging from his head. It has long been noted, however, that some figures in Romano-British mosaics have both trident and claws. These include depictions from Withington and from Ashcroft Villas, Cirencester, which might otherwise be regarded as Oceanus, as well as a figure in a mythological scene from Pitney where the context indicates that this must be Neptune. The presence of the trident to identify Neptune does not seem to have been essential: a bust with crustacean claws but no trident in a mosaic from Frampton is accompanied by an inscription naming him. This paper reviews the possible representations of Neptune or Oceanus in Romano-British mosaics to consider which is likely to be the correct identification and whether, as others argue, the imagery of some of the mosaics is conflated or confused. The evidence from other media, and in particular a coin of Carausius, is assessed; on this basis, it is concluded that most of the figures probably represent Neptune. The unique geographical position of Britain, separated from the rest of the Roman empire by Ocean’s stream, is the explanation for the addition of crustacean claws.