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Roman Altar,
Clifton
ROMAN ALTAR FOUND IN CUMBERLAND.
IN making the excavation of the Lancaster and Carlisle
Railway at Clifton, the Roman Altar here represented was
recently discovered. It is now the property of Mr. G. Mould,
esq. of Coldale Hall, near Carlisle; who, for the inspection
of the curious, has kindly deposited it in the yard of Mr.
Thomas Raper, stone-cutter, in Botchergate, previous to its
being placed in the private grounds adjoining his residence.
The annexed engraving is copied fror the Carlisle Patriot.
The two figures of a vase and praefericulum are on the sides
of the altar; the back of it is plain and in a rough state.
The inscription may be read thus:-
JOVI OPTIMO MAXIMO
GENIO LOCI
BRITANNICO
SOLVENS VOTUM AP-
OLLINA-
RIS PRIN-
CIPI CURAVIT FACIENDUM.
The nearest parallel inscription to this, found in Britain,
with which we are acquainted, is one on an altar found at
Walton Castlesteads, in the parish of Haltwhistle, on the
line of the Roman Wall, (Hodgson,* p.215) -
I O M ET G
LOCI G VI ...
In justification of our reading, "Genio loci Britannico," we
may refer to another altar, found at Achindavy, also on the
Roman Wall, (Hodgson, p.266) - Inscribed GENIO TERRAE BRI-
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