Find Spot record 8088/21 - Roman altar from Eastgate Street

An altar was recovered in front of the Grosvenor Hotel near the steps to the City Walls in 1884. Only a partial inscription survived reading IO.OPT.MAX (RIB i 453) dedicated to ‘Jupiter Best and Greatest’

The altar had been used as a building stone at some point in the past and was subsequently damaged, only the left hand portion remained. (1)

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

<2> Wright, R. P. & Richmond, I. A., 1955, Catalogue of the Roman Inscribed and Sculptured Stones in the Grosvenor Museum, Chester (Monograph). SCH522.

<3> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire: A Description of Roman Remains in the County of Chester, p185-186 (Book). SCH2878.

<4> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans, No.28 (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

<5> Royal Archaeological Institute, 1845-Present, Archaeological Journal, Vol 42 p 147 (Journal/Periodical). SCH338.

<6> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p148 (Book). SCH3556.

<7> Collingwood R G & Wright R P, 1965, The Roman Inscriptions of Britain: Volume I, No 453 (Monograph). SCH3235.

<8> Hubner, Prof., 1890, The Roman Inscriptions of Deva (Chester) (Article in Journal). SCH5581.

<9> Shrubsole, George W, 1886, Catalogue of the Roman Altars, No 24 (Book). SCH6540.

<10> Henig D.F, 2004, Roman Sculpture in the NW Midlands, No 8 (Book). SCH6862.