Find Spot record 8088/41 - Roman altar from Eastgate Street

An altar found in 1693 when digging a cellar in the house of Mr Heath on the south side of Eastgate Street, at the corner of Newgate Street, about 54.9m inside the Eastgate. The altar is dedicated by a military tribune of Legio XX, Flavius Longus for the welfare of jointly reigning emperors, indicating a date no earlier than the Severan period, and the genius of the place. It is sculptured on all four sides (1) & (2).

Possibly from the site of a tribune's house (3) RIB i 450

The Roman altar was frequently found in homes, markets, public buildings and sacred spaces, often within a shrine or niche in the wall of the building. They are frequently inscribed with a dedication to a deity as well as decorated with carved sculptures.

<1> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire: A Description of Roman Remains in the County of Chester, p169-173 (Book). SCH2878.

<2> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans, No.27 (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p148 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Hemingway, J., 1831, History of Chester, from its foundation to the present time. Volume 2, p349 (Book). SCH1412.

<5> Collingwood R G & Wright R P, 1965, The Roman Inscriptions of Britain: Volume I, RIB 450 (Monograph). SCH3235.

<6> Haverfield, F, 1900, Catalogue of the Roman Sculptured stones in the Grosvenor Museum, No 5 (Article in Journal). SCH5530.

<7> Henig D.F, 2004, Roman Sculpture in the NW Midlands, No 7 (Book). SCH6862.

<8> Shrubsole, George W, 1886, Catalogue of the Roman Altars, No 25 (Book). SCH6540.