Page 43 - A Walk to Caesarea / Joseph Patrich
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A Walk to Caesarea: A Historical-Archaeological Perspective 29
Another cult, probably personal and not public, is discerned from a Greek
inscription in fulfillment of a vow to Jupiter Dolichenus, the god of Doliche in
Commagene in Asia Minor. He was also popular among the soldiers, mainly in the
west. The dedicator was apparently a military man who had settled in Caesarea.
Dedicatory inscriptions were also found to Megas Despotes (Great Lord), probably
referring to a main Syrian god of Hadad or Bacalshamin type. Another Syrian
divinity to whom an altar was dedicated by a centurion in the first half of the second
century is Turmasgade (Figs. 31a–d). From all these we learn of the prominent
ab Fig.31a–d
A four-cornered incense altar that
bore a dedicatory inscription in
Latin on behalf of Julius Magnus,
a centurion of Legio XII Fulminata
to the god Turmasgade, known
from northern Syria: height 1.45 m,
limestone. Carved on the four sides
of the altar are niches with a pair of
pillars and shells. End of 1st century
or beginning of 2nd century CE
a. An eagle with spread wings
standing on a base on which the
dedication is incised. In its claws
it holds a lightning bolt and it
is crowned with a garland by
the goddess of victory, Victoria/
Nike, who holds a palm frond in
her left hand. Above – remnants
of the name of the god – GADE
b. Minerva/Athena, the goddess of
war (or the goddess of the city
of Rome – Dea Roma presented
by her image), standing on a
c d polygonal base, dressed in a
long garment, and a helmet with
a high bud on her head. In her
right hand is a spear, and she
held a shield in her left hand
c. A naked-breasted Tyche-
Amazon. On her head is a mural
crown; her right foot stands on
the prow of ship. Next to her left
foot is the genius of the harbor.
In her left hand is a spear, and in
her right, she apparently held a
bust of the emperor
d. Victoria/Nike, the goddess of
victory, standing on a sphere. In
her right hand – a palm frond, and
in her left – a booty trophy with
a spread-winged eagle on top
