Nehalennia-altaar
- Showpiece
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Nehalennia
Circa 200 AD, limestone, height 76 cm, Colijnsplaat (Oosterschelde, province of Zeeland)
In 1970 a fisherman fishing in the Oosterschelde, near Colijnsplaat, found some stone fragments in his nets. They appeared to be pieces of votive altars for the local Roman goddess Nehalennia. Extensive research followed, during which about 200 (parts of) altars were dredged up. It is assumed there has been a temple on this site as well, which was swallowed by the water in the course of time.
Nehalennia is a fertility goddess and the patroness of hearth and home and of seafarers. This altar shows the goddess standing with her left foot on the bow of a ship. She is holding a basket of fruit. There is a dog at her right side. The inscription reads: 'To the goddess Nehalennia Vegisonius Martinus, citizen from the land of the Sequani and seaman, has redeemed his vow, willingly and with reason.' The Sequani lived in the area around the French town of Besançon. This Gallic seaman apparently traded with these regions.
- Date of creation
- van 150 tot 250
- Period
- Object type
- altars (religious fixtures)
- Dimensions
- Collection
- Archeological finds from the Netherlands
- Institution
- Source
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- signatuur: i 1970/12.13 (altaar; romeins), Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden
- Copyright
- for information contact: Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, Leiden
- Keyword
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