Roman bridge-findings on display

[guy]

 

Corbridge, a town in Northumberland, England, near Hadrian’s Wall and along the River Tyne, was an important Roman settlement and supply center, yielding many Roman artifacts (see the post below). Today, an exhibit titled “Roman Rivers and Rituals” is on display at Corbridge Roman Town, showcasing Roman discoveries made near the bridge.

Pictured above: a Roman knife handle depicting a secutor gladiator was found in the river near Corbridge.

 

Quote

In Roman religion, the gods could make or break your fortune, and you overlooked their power at your peril. Running water was also considered especially important in spiritual matters, and rivers were seen as boundaries. Crossing a river marked an important stage of a journey, but bridges crossing rivers could offend the gods.

 

A new exhibition at Corbridge Roman Town (Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland) is unveiling a remarkable set of Roman ritual deposits recovered from the River Tyne-objects deliberately offered to river gods at a major bridge crossing. The finds include a gladiator-shaped knife handle, scabbard fittings, a panther-shaped mount, shackles, coins, and personal grooming tools, all discovered by divers in the 1990s and now displayed publicly for the first time.

 

• The objects were ritual offerings placed near a Roman bridge on Dere Street, the major road from York into the northern frontier
  territory.
• Romans believed running water and river crossings were spiritually potent-and potentially dangerous-thresholds.
• Travelers, soldiers, and traders offered items to river gods for protection, safe passage, or thanks after leaving the frontier zone of Hadrian's Wall.

 

https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/25970742.rare-roman-objects-hadrians-wall-northumberland-site/

 

Previous post about the finds:

 

 

Edited March 28 by guy