Funerary relief Vettia Hospita and Lucius Vettius Alexander

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Vettia Hospita commissioned a funerary relief that would stand as testament to her enduring love for Lucius Vettius Alexander and their daughter Vettia Polla. The monument boldly depicts the couple embracing in the sacred ritual of dextrarum iunctio, their right hands clasped together in a powerful symbol of unity. Flanking them are two smaller busts that serve as poignant reminders of the transience of life. In ancient Rome, the handclasp of two parties was an adaptable motif imbued with multifaceted meanings, encompassing not only the themes of reunion and separation but also the bonds of harmony, friendship, loyalty, and affinity. The consecrated right hand held a special significance as it represented fidelity to the gods, lending weight to its use in scenes of political concord where the handclasp signified the sealing of alliances and contracts.