‘Hand of god’ found at excavation site
AS Argentina squeeze into the last 16 of the World Cup, a Roman fort in Northumberland has come up with its own “hand of god”.
While Maradona has been watching on from his seat in the Russian stands, excavations at Vindolanda fort have revealed a bronze hand which had been discarded in a ditch.
The 10cm hand originally had an attachment, now missing, inserted into the palm.
The hand is well crafted, especially on the palm side, indicating its purpose was to profile the object that it once held. The base of the hand is socketed and would have been originally fixed to a pole.
The hand was uncovered near a temple dedicated to Jupiter Dolichenus, tucked into the northern wall of the Third Century fort at Vindolanda. It is believed that it most likely served a cult function and may have been closely associated with Jupiter Dolichenus, a god and mystery cult that was widespread in the Roman Empire from the early Second to midThird centuries AD.
Comparable examples of votive hands have been found at or close to other temples of Jupiter Dolichenus, although most are slightly larger than the Vindolanda example and some still have inscriptions referring to the god.
Jupiter Dolichenus is depicted holding a thunderbolt in his hand with upraised arm signifying his destructive power. The open votive hand symbolizes the protection and well-being that he could also bring.
Dr Andrew Birley, chief executive and director of excavations at the Vindolanda Trust, said: “We did not expect to find such a beautifully preserved and rare cult artefact so soon after the start of the 2018 excavation season.
“When we excavated the nearby temple to Dolichenus in 2009 it was clear that the temple treasures had been removed in Roman times.
“However, this find being made in a nearby area reminds us that the life of the temple and the practices associated with the worship of Dolichenus had clearly stretched beyond the confines of its stone walls.
“The cult of Jupiter Dolichenus is shrouded in mystery as very little evidence has survived of its myths, liturgies or rituals. All that is known about the religion is based on surviving inscriptions, sculptures or other prices of decorative art from different parts of the Roman Empire. “
The hand has now gone on display in the same gallery as the altars dedicated to Jupiter Dolichenus at the Vindolanda museum.