Altar at Caseggiato di Diana
TNMM 582 ↔ CIMRM 219 & 220
Marble altar (H. 0.78 Br. 0.35 D. 0.44), standing before the cult-niche.
The altar has a hole in the middle, which pierces the marble completely. At the front the opening is surrounded by a wreath of oak-leaves with flying ribbons. An inscription over it (No. 220).
CIMRM 220
CIL XIV 4310
M. Lollianus / Callinicus pater / aram deo / do(num) de(dit).
Callinicus: compare Nos. 222; 223.
The altar, as an inscription (CIL XIV 4280) proves, was originally dedicated to Hercules. From a thorough investigation by G. Becatti it has become clear, that the Mithraists after changing it into a Mithras-altar, have turned it upside down with the inscription of Hercules against the wall of the cult-niche. This they did, because the upper part of the altar was broken off and had been lost. This is an established fact as that part was found back in 1940. The wreath of oak-leaves already was on the altar, but Callinicus had the two ribbons added and at the same time the altar was pierced, which caused some damage to the Hercules-inscription.
CIL XIV 4310
References
Calza o.c. 331; Becatti in BCR LXVII 1939 38 n. 10; BCR LXX 1942 120f. with fig.
- Vermaseren, Maarten Jozef (1956) Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae
