REPLICA altars of a rare religious shrine have been unveiled at Vindolanda.
The shrine, which consisted of three altars, was uncovered by archaeologists in 2009 and was dedicated to the cult of Jupiter Dolichenus, a religious organisation shrouded in mystery.
The cult was widespread across the Roman Empire from the early second to mid third centuries AD, but little is known about the religion.
The excavated altars are now on display at Vindolanda’s museum, but archaeologists have taken the unusual step of replicating the altars to put them on display.
Northumbrian sculptor Kerry Boyes recast the altars in jesmonite after they were carefully moulded on the originals.
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