Temple of Bellona (Ostia)
Encyclopedia
The temple of Bellona is a temple or sacellum
dedicated to the Italic goddess Bellona
(possibly here syncretised
with Magna Mater) in Ostia Antica.
It is to be found on the east side of the "Campo di Magna Mater" (Regio IV, Insula THE, n. 4) and is made up of a small building with cella
preceded by two columns and three frontal steps. All, including the columns, is made of brick. The inside of the cella includes a low podium at the back, frescoed walls, a white mosaic floor and a marble threshold with the holes for the door pivots.
In the temple a relief of two pairs of feet was found, facing in opposite directions - perhaps a votive offering by a soldier who had departed for war and returned safely.
and, on the reverse
Sacellum
In ancient Roman religion, a sacellum is a small shrine. The word is a diminutive from sacer . The numerous sacella of ancient Rome included both shrines maintained on private properties by families, and public shrines...
dedicated to the Italic goddess Bellona
Bellona (goddess)
Bellona was an Ancient Roman goddess of war, similar to the Ancient Greek Enyo. Bellona's attribute is a sword and she is depicted wearing a helmet and armed with a spear and a torch....
(possibly here syncretised
Syncretism
Syncretism is the combining of different beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term means "combining", but see below for the origin of the word...
with Magna Mater) in Ostia Antica.
It is to be found on the east side of the "Campo di Magna Mater" (Regio IV, Insula THE, n. 4) and is made up of a small building with cella
Cella
A cella or naos , is the inner chamber of a temple in classical architecture, or a shop facing the street in domestic Roman architecture...
preceded by two columns and three frontal steps. All, including the columns, is made of brick. The inside of the cella includes a low podium at the back, frescoed walls, a white mosaic floor and a marble threshold with the holes for the door pivots.
In the temple a relief of two pairs of feet was found, facing in opposite directions - perhaps a votive offering by a soldier who had departed for war and returned safely.
Inscription
Found on the temple steps was the following inscription, naming Aulus Livius Proculus and the duovir Publius Lucilius Gamala Filius as rebuilding it (duoviral involvement proves it was on public land):| A(ulus) LIVIVS PROCVLVS P(ublius) LVCILIVS | Aulus Livius Proculus [and] Publius Lucilius | |
| GAMALA F(ilius) IIVIR PRAEF(ectus) CAESAR(is) | Gamala Filius, duovir, prefect of Caesar, | |
| LOCVM QVOD AEDES BELLONAE FIERET | the place which was a temple of Bellona | |
| IMPENSA LICTORVM ET SERVORUM PVBLICORVM | at the expense of the lictor Lictor The lictor was a member of a special class of Roman civil servant, with special tasks of attending and guarding magistrates of the Roman Republic and Empire who held imperium, the right and power to command; essentially, a bodyguard... s and public slaves |
|
| QVI IN CORPORE SVNT ADSIGNAVERVNT | who are undersigned in the box below | |
| D(ecreto) D(ecurionum) | by the decree of the decurio Decurio Decurio was an official title in Ancient Rome, used in various connections:# A member of the senatorial order in the Italian towns under the administration of Rome, and later in provincial towns organized on the Italian model . The number of decuriones varied in different towns, but was usually 100... ns |
|
| CVR(averunt) | looked after | |
| M(arco) NAEVIO FRVCTO ET --- | By/to Marcus Naevius Fructus and ... | |
and, on the reverse
| NVMINI BELLONAE SACR(um) | holy to the numen Numen Numen is a Latin term for a potential, guiding the course of events in a particular place or in the whole world, used in Roman philosophical and religious thought... s of Bellona |
|
| DEC(reto) DEC(urionum) PVBLICE LOCO ADSIGNAT(o), | marked as public land by the decree of the public decuriones, | |
| LICTORES VIATOR(es) ET HONORE VSI ET | the lictors, viator Viator -External links: - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía - Diputación Provincial de Almería... s and in honour of its use |
|
| LIBERTI COLON(iae) ET SERV(i) PVBLICI CORPOR(ati) | both the freedmen of the colony and the corporation of public slaves | |
| OPERE AMPLIATO | the whole work | |
| SVA PECVNIA RESTITVERVNT | restored from their own resources |