25
RUTCHESTER ALTARS,
DICOVERED IN 1814.
Plate 4.
Fig. 1.
MYTRAEPAEL
TMVLLVSPRÆ
V: S.LLM
Expanded.
1st.
DEO INVCTO MYTRÆ PERSICO ÆLIO TMVLLVS PRÆTOR VOTVM SOLVIT LIBENTSSIME MERITO.
2ndly.
DEO INCOLARVM VICTO, &c.
Translation.
Tmullus, the Prætor, in discharge of his vow, most willingly erected this Altar to Mytras, the Persian God Apollo, who deserved it, being invincible, or the God of the inhabitants being vanquished by him.
Note.—The letters J C M B at the top mean Julius Cæsar of illustrious memory, and shew that his death had not long preceded its erection. The Commonwealth being restored, the title of Emperor on their monuments would have been improper.
Plate 4.
Fig 2.
CASTVS
LEG. VI. D. P.
Translation.
Lucius Sentius Castus, of the Sixth Legion, erected this Altar dedicated to God[errata 1].
N.B.—It is highly probable that this Altar was erected by Greeks from Attica, as it was dedicated simply to God, or, "the unknown God."
Acts xvii. 22, 23.—"Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars'[errata 2] Hill and said—"Ye Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are too superstitious.—For as I passed by and beheld your devotions, I found an Altar with this inscription, to the UNKNOWN GOD. Whom, therefore, ye ignorantly worship, him I declare unto you."
Errata
