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THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF
Roman Domestic Religion
IB003
House 2B
Cult Space Type:
Altar
Building Name:
House 2B
Site Name:
Empuries/Ampurius
Date:
1st c. A.D., 1st c. B.C.
Country:
Spain
Associated
Cult Spaces:
Room Function:
IB083
Peristyle/Portico
Features:
Altar
Description:
Located in the peristyle was a freestanding masonry altar. The altar was square in shape with a stepped top and curved pulvini. The base of the structure was made from bricks and tile and coated in plaster. The top, which was separate, was constructred from limestone. Decoration had survived on the east and west faces of the structure, with remnants of further decoration on the other surfaces of the altar. The body of the altar was decorated with painted scenes, depicting two serpents approaching a kantharos (wine vessel) with a pinecone in it. The tails of the serpents coiled around the sides of the altar. A rooster was depicted on the rear face. Green and red garlands with ribbbons are visible running around the top of the painted scenes with plants with pink flowers decorating the bottom of the panels. The steps of the plinths were also painted, with fragments showing sections of imitation marble and depictions of olive branches with green leaves and black olives.
References:
Nieto 1971; Carrion-Masgrau, I., and M. Santos-Retolaza 1995, p. 112; Aquilué et all 2009, pp. 98-100; Pérez Ruiz 2014, App. 140-145; Pérez Ruiz 2019, pp. 346-347
Image Reference:
Van Vliet 2020
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