Altar (piece)

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This upper part of a sandstone altar was found at the site of the Roman fort at Mumrills in Stirlingshire. It was carved between 140 and 165 AD.

The fragmentary inscription carved on the altar records that the altar was dedicated to the Mother Goddesses by the standard bearer Cassius. The Mother Goddesses were deities from the northwest provinces, adopted into the Roman religion.

An altar was a public sign of a Roman's beliefs. On each, the donor's name as well as the god's was recorded. Offerings were made in the hollow on the top. Wine was often poured onto the altar.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-036-748-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.FR 540
• Date: Between 140 and 165 AD
  
• Material: Sandstone; inscribed
  Altar / fragment
  
• Dimensions: 370 mm H x 170 mm L x 260 mm W
  
• What: Altar / fragment
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Stirlingshire, Falkirk, Mumrills
  
• Event:
• Description: Fragment of a sandstone altar dedicated to the Mother goddesses, from Mumrills
  
• References:
  • Collingwood, R.G. & Wright, R.P. The Roman Inscriptions of Britain Vol. 1: Inscriptions on Stone. Oxford: University Press, 1965, no. 2141, pp 658-9 
• Translations:
• Related Records: