11-13-2008, 11:10 AM
A new image for me- from Whalley Abbey in Lancashire. Thought to have come from Ribchester, it has been interpreted as a horned Celtic god or Mars in the garb of a Roman heavy cavalryman (from an unpublished work in 1990 by W. Shannon).
Its an image that I haven't seen in any publication- so here it is. I would interpret the "horns" as plumes on a helmet, which also reminds me of the Late Roman "Cornuti" helmets. Rather than a representation of a God in military dress, I'd suggest it comes from a military gravestone.
Thoughts on a date? Second/ third century based on the round chape on the sword?
The image is also too big to post- can someone help me here?
http://www.lancsarchsoc.org.uk/w021.png
There is also a Roman altar embedded in one of the towers, with Flavius fulfilling his vow.
http://www.lancsarchsoc.org.uk/w022.png
Its an image that I haven't seen in any publication- so here it is. I would interpret the "horns" as plumes on a helmet, which also reminds me of the Late Roman "Cornuti" helmets. Rather than a representation of a God in military dress, I'd suggest it comes from a military gravestone.
Thoughts on a date? Second/ third century based on the round chape on the sword?
The image is also too big to post- can someone help me here?
http://www.lancsarchsoc.org.uk/w021.png
There is also a Roman altar embedded in one of the towers, with Flavius fulfilling his vow.
http://www.lancsarchsoc.org.uk/w022.png