The Simpulum - The Ritual Ladle in Your Kitchen Drawer
You’ve heard the expression, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That’s pretty much the case with the design of the ancient sacrificial implement, the simpulum. It’s essentially a serving ladle and almost identical to the one you have banging around in one of your kitchen drawers next to a whisk or two.
Yet the simplicity and kitchen-ish design betrays both the importance and scope of this object’s use as an essential ritual tool in the state religion of ancient Rome. The simpulum is a symbol of the Roman priesthood and, along with other sacrificial implements, is commonly associated with the Vestal Virgins.
The simpulum was used to taste the wine to be used in a ritual or sacrifice and to pour wine over the head of an animal before it was offered to the gods. It was also used to offer libations into the sacred fire or over the altar, as you can see in the below coin: the Vestal priestess on the left is holding a simpulum, presumably pouring out wine, milk or oil.
Ancient As c. 2nd century CE, Vestals sacrificing before Temple of Vesta: Priestess to left holding simpulum. From author’s collection
Here is a closer look at an ancient bronze simpulum that I was able to purchase from an auction house:
Ancient simpulum / ritual ladle with duck motif on handle’s end. From author’s collection
You can see that the end of the handle is in the shape of a duck head, which is a very common motif. This item is quite small (it’s about 5 inches / 13 cm tall), and would have likely been a household item. The family would have used this to offer the gods a few drops of their wine or oil at mealtime, or during times of prayer or special request. The simpulum that a priest or priestess would have used during a state religious ritual would have been a much larger and much finer item made of silver or even gold.
So the next time you dip a ladle into a punch bowl or a pot of soup, think of the ancient Romans. And maybe offer a little to the gods before you indulge, just for good luck.