Find Spot record 8088/30 - Roman Stone Figure from White Friars

A stone relief figure originally discovered in the wall of a cellar at No 12 White Friars in 1853 was subsequently removed and gifted to the museum. The figure is depicted as a boy wearing a mantle across the shoulders, a short jacket on the body and a Phyrgian cap. The figure is also holding an inverted torch or staff. (5)

When originally discovered it was believed to have come from the now demolished south wall of the fortress defences and later re-used in the construction of the cellar. (1)

Following the partial demolition of the cellar in 1884, the relief was gifted to the museum by the then owner Mr Bullin. (4)

When discovered, the figure was interpreted as Cautopates of the Roman cult of Mithraism, in part due to the discovery of a similar figure nearby (CHER 8088/56) (5). It has since been suggested that the figure is of Atys, the companion of the mother goddess Cybele and believed to be of a late 2nd-3rd century date (9)

<1> Thompson Watkin W. T., 1886, Roman Cheshire: A Description of Roman Remains in the County of Chester, p191 (Book). SCH2878.

<2> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, 1857 lst s/1/431 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<3> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, p160 (Book). SCH3556.

<4> Peter Salway, 1981, Roman Britain (Book). SCH4888.

<5> Haverfield, F, 1900, Catalogue of the Roman Sculptured stones in the Grosvenor Museum, No 169 (Article in Journal). SCH5530.

<6> Shrubsole, George W, 1886, Catalogue of the Roman Altars, No 17 (Book). SCH6540.

<7> Williams W.J., 1921, The Cult of Mithra in Deva (Article in Journal). SCH5686.

<8> Lawson, P H, 1926, Schedule of the Roman Remains of Chester with Maps and Plans, No 40 (Article in Journal). SCH5956.

<9> Henig D.F, 2004, Roman Sculpture in the NW Midlands, No 15 (Book). SCH6862.

<10> David James Laverty, 2014-2015, The Search for Mithras in Roman Britain: A Reassessment of the Archaeological Evidence, p.28 (Unpublished Report). SCH8586.