Page 6 - Oundle Life March 2021

OUNDLE MUSEUM
The Ashton Minerva
Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare and craft.
The bust of Ashton’s Minerva sits on the back of a Roman eagle, the handle of a butteris which is a farrier’s tool for paring down a hoof.
The butteris was found on the site of a smith’s workshop on the roadside at the Roman town
Minerva’s nose has almost been flattened
of Ashton excavated near the present A605 roundabout. The handle was cast in bronze, partly hollow and filled with lead. The iron shank of the chisel-like tool was fixed into the lead.
Wear on the tool indicated a long period of use and the pattern of wear showed that it had been used by a right–handed person of moderate build using both hands to operate. In particular, Minerva’s nose has almost been flattened.
One can only imagine that such a decorative object with rather a mundane use was highly valued by its owner. Why was it discarded?
Sadly the Museum remains closed, but as soon as we can re-open safely we will, and look forward to meeting everyone when you will be able to see items such as the butteris for real. John Hadman, Oundle Museum www.oundlemuseum.org.uk
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