The Roman doll from Torreparedones (Baena, Córdoba): toy or magical object?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26754/ojs_salduie/sald.2026113176

Keywords:

Magic doll, Manipulation of figurines, Performative action, Roman Empire

Abstract

In this brief paper, we propose the possibility that the Roman doll from Torreparedones (Baena, Córdoba) may in fact be a magic doll, given the inconsistencies between some of its features and those of a toy, as well as the similarities to manipulations found in other Roman magic dolls of similar chronology. We analyse their formal characteristics, as well as the significance of the places where they were found, comparing these with other known magical figures and the manipulations they show, in search of performative actions, particularly in the case of those found in the western part of the Roman Empire, most of which date from the late period.

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References

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Ventura Villanueva, Á.; Morena López, J. A.; Gasparini, M.; Moreno Rosa, A. (2021). Novedades arqueológicas en Torreparedores (Baena, Córdoba: Termas de la Salud y Anfiteatro. Actualidad de la Investigación Arqueológica en España III (2020-2021): conferencias impartidas en el Museo Arqueológico Nacional: 171-193. Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte.

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Published

2026-05-26

How to Cite

“The Roman doll from Torreparedones (Baena, Córdoba): toy or magical object?” (2026) Salduie, 26(1), pp. 151–155. doi:10.26754/ojs_salduie/sald.2026113176.

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