07-29-2009, 09:03 AM
Wow -- how did we miss this?
Carlisle News & Star, 16 July 2009:
A unique religious shrine to a Roman god has been uncovered at a fort along Hadrian’s Wall.
The altar dedicated to Jupiter of Doliche has been discovered next to the north gate of Vindolanda in Northumberland.
Director of excavations Andrew Birley said: “What should have been part of the rampart mound near the north gate has turned out to be an amazing religious shrine with a substantial and exceptionally well preserved altar dedicated by a prefect of the Fourth Cohort of Gauls to an important eastern god, Jupiter of Doliche.
“We estimate that this highly decorated stone altar – standing some 110cm high, and showing the god standing on a bull holding an axe and a thunderbolt – is around 1.5 tonnes in weight.”
[attachment=0:1pe01fg5]<!-- ia0 Vindolanda_shrine.jpg<!-- ia0 [/attachment:1pe01fg5]
More at Vindolanda Trust web site.
Carlisle News & Star, 16 July 2009:
A unique religious shrine to a Roman god has been uncovered at a fort along Hadrian’s Wall.
The altar dedicated to Jupiter of Doliche has been discovered next to the north gate of Vindolanda in Northumberland.
Director of excavations Andrew Birley said: “What should have been part of the rampart mound near the north gate has turned out to be an amazing religious shrine with a substantial and exceptionally well preserved altar dedicated by a prefect of the Fourth Cohort of Gauls to an important eastern god, Jupiter of Doliche.
“We estimate that this highly decorated stone altar – standing some 110cm high, and showing the god standing on a bull holding an axe and a thunderbolt – is around 1.5 tonnes in weight.”
[attachment=0:1pe01fg5]<!-- ia0 Vindolanda_shrine.jpg<!-- ia0 [/attachment:1pe01fg5]
More at Vindolanda Trust web site.
