CROATO-AEGYPTICA

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A votive altar dedicated to Isis

A votive altar dedicated to Isis
A votive altar made of limestone. It was found in the village of Galižana (vicus Galisanus). The monument has the form of a rectangular block positioned on a widened pedestal, which was profiled in relief on three sides.
A gable was originally situated over the inscription area. Its front is fully chiselled off, with a shallow profile on the sides.

A votive message to Isis is engraved on top of the inscription area in regular elongated letters of the same height in three lines.

The middle of the inscription area under the first line is decorated in relief with Isis' symbols and other objects used during the performing of cults. Several relief depictions can be discerned on the altar's front side: a clapper (sistrum), a little chest (cistella), a prophet bird (avis) – objects that were used in the Isis cult services. Instruments of Isis are also engraved on the whole altar’s right lateral side in shallow relief: sword (gladius), augur's bent cane (lituus), saw (serra), genius leading a panther, ears of grain (spica), peacock above earth and crescent.

The second line of inscriptions is engraved on the monument's front and the size of letters are the same as in the first line. The third and the last line is engraved at the very bottom of the monument in small plain letters, all the same size.

[I]SIDIS IM{N}PERIO
Q(uintus) LVTATIVS
IVCVNDVS

At the behest of Isis
Quintus Lutatius
Jucundus

B. Forlati Tamaro dates the monument to the 1st century according to its form, although the form of the letters resembles more the 2nd century type. According to P. Stanković the altar was displayed in St. Justus church in Galižana, whereas Th. Mommsen believes that Pula got it thanks to P. Kandler and that it was positioned in the Augustus temple. The monument is today displayed in the Lapidarium of the Archaeological Museum of Istria in Pula, Room I.

Catalogue entry

A votive altar dedicated to Isis
Archaeological Museum of Istria, Pula
Inv. no. AMIP A-41; old inv. no. AMIP 229
Galižana (vicus Galisanus)
Roman Empire, 1st-2nd c. A.D.
limestone: carving, stone processing
91 x 50 x 43 cm


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