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Statuette of Jupiter

Summary: The bronze statue represents Jupiter, the ruler of the gods in Roman Olympus. Jupiter stands naked on his right leg and has his left leg loosely placed to the side. The left arm is raised; he originally held a long scepter in his hand as a sign of his sovereign power.
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Post type: Object

Epoch: Roman Empire

Topic: image and writing, Religion, cult and death

Exhibition venue: Römerkastell Saalburg

Place of discovery: Saalburg Castle, Taunus

Date: Late 2nd to early 3rd century AD.

Material: Bronze

Dimensions:

Height 8.5cm

Inventory number: SB 674

Description

The bronze statue represents Jupiter, the ruler of the gods in Roman Olympus. Jupiter stands naked on his right leg and has his left leg loosely placed to the side. The left arm is raised; he originally held a long scepter in his hand as a sign of his sovereign power. The right arm is stretched forward. The head follows the type of ancient father deities with flowing curls and a beard. Eyes made of different, colored materials looked out of the now empty eye sockets.

The location of the statuette in the camp village in front of the gates of the fort proves the great importance of worship in the daily life of the civilian population at the turn of the 2nd and 3rd centuries.