Mensa Isiaca

The Mensa Isiaca, also known as the Bembine Tablet, is a sophisticated bronze artifact from the Roman period with inlays of various metals, depicting figures and Egyptian-style hieroglyphics. Dating back to the 1st century AD, it was possibly created in Rome as an ornament for the cult of Isis. After passing through various owners, including Cardinal Bembo, it entered the collections of the House of Savoy in Turin in 1628, becoming the first piece of a renowned collection. The Mensa, measuring 75x130 centimeters, features inlays of copper, niello, and silver on a bronze base. After being returned to Turin following a period in France during the Napoleonic Directory, it is now exhibited in the Academy of Sciences, part of the Egyptian Museum. This unique artifact, celebrated by scholars and occultists, represents a refined example of ancient metallurgy, with Egyptian motifs used for decorative purposes. The central figure, recognizable as the goddess Isis, suggests an origin linked to her cult, possibly as an altar table in the Temple of Isis in the Field of Mars.