Unique Shrine to a Major Roman God Unearthed at Vindolanda

The Vindolanda excavation team has uncovered a unique religious shrine next to the north gate of the fort.

"What should have been part of the rampart mound near to the north gate of the fort 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 110 cms. High, and showing the god standing on a bull holding an axe and a thunderbolt, is around 1.5 tons in weight.

The inscription reads: "To Jupiter Best and Greatest of Doliche, Sulpicius Pudens, prefect of the Fourth Cohort of Gauls, fulfilled his vow gladly and deservedly".

Jupiter of Doliche's cult centre was in modern southern Turkey and his worship spread rapidly in the Roman Army where he was regarded as all powerful and strongly associated with Rome's Jupiter.

Major altars like this are very rare finds and to discover such a shrine inside the fort is highly unusual. The shrine also has evidence of animal sacrifice and possible religious feasting. It all adds to the excitement of the excavations and is a once in a lifetime experience for most excavators"
Andrew Birley - Director of Excavations.

Stop Press: The bottom half of a second altar has also been discovered in the shrine. This altar was dedicated by a prefect of the Second Cohort of Nervians, a Vindolanda regiment that then moved to the fort at Whitley Castle in the third century.

Roman Vindolanda: Roman Vindolanda is situated in the heart of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage Site, just to the north of the village of Bardon Mill, Northumberland. Roman Vindolanda is one of the most exciting sites along Hadrian's Wall with its wealth of archaeological remains and ongoing excavations.

The 2009 Vindolanda excavations continue until mid September and trench edge talks by archaeologists are given at 2pm each day during the school holiday period.