DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14696#0139
Iupiter-Columns
89
Another variety of 'Jupiter-column,' found over a wider area1
and dating, it would seem, from a somewhat earlier period2, was
surmounted merely by a seated or standing
figure of the sky-gods. These columns were
characterised by much sculptural decoration4.
Their square plinth was regularly a Viergotter-
stein carved with deities: indeed, it seems
probable that the practice of thus adorning the
plinth began with the makers of the earlier
columns and spread from them to the makers
of the rider-and-giant series, who improved upon
the earlier plan by restricting the deities in
question to representatives of the seasons, soon
afterwards adding the heads or busts on the
capital to denote the divisions of the day, and
at the same time or but little later introducing
the Wochengottcrstein as a secondary plinth".
The shaft of the earlier columns might be left
smooth (fig. 51)", but was often patterned with
scales etc.7, and sometimes also embellished with
the figures of deities, e.g. Mercurius, Minerva,
Iuno (fig. 52)? or Hercules, Minerva, Iuno in
1 F. Hertlein op. cit. p. 5 r : ' derartige Saulen mit stehen-
dem oder thronendem Juppiter finden sich haufig ausserhalb
des Gebietes der Gigantengruppen und an der Peripherie der-
selben, wo diese sehr selten sind, wie in der Kolner Gegend'
(cp. ib. pp. 53, 158).
2 Id. ib. p. 159.
3 Hence F. Hertlein op. cit. passim would distinguish them
as ' Juppitersciiden'' from the ' JuppitergigantensaMlen' already
discussed. This convenient nomenclature is more possible in
German than in English.
4 F. Hertlein op. cit. p. 157.
5 Id. ib. pp. 159—161.
6 So in the case of the smaller column from Heddernheim
(O. Donner-von Richter and A. Riese Heddernheimer Aiisgralmngen Frankfurt am Main
1885 (an Stelle des Neujahrs-Blattes des Vereins fur Geschichte und Alterthumskunde
fur- 1885 und 1886) pi. 1, 2 f. =my fig. 51, F. Hertlein op. cit. pp. 6, 158, supra p. 71
n. 6), which has a total height of 2-30m and is accompanied by an altar o-625m high
inscribed I(pvi) O(ptimo) M(aximo).
7 F. Hertlein op.-cit. p. 158, cp. ib. p. 84.
8 Id. ib. p. 157 f. I figure the limestone altar, column, and statue found in 1880 at
Mayence among the ruins of a large Roman building and now in the Mayence Museum
(J. Keller in the Jahrb. d. Vereins v. Alterthmnsfrettnd. im Rheinl. 1881 lxx. 1 ff. pi. r,
F. Hettner in the Westdeutsche Zeitschrift 1885 iv. 37of., Korber in the Maimer Zeit-
schrift 1906 i. 62 fig., F. Hertlein op. cit. p. 157 f.). The altar (height o'5om, length
and breadth 0-315m) is inscribed I(ovi) 0{ptimo) M(aximd) \ M.P.P. j v.s.l.l.m. The
column (upper diameter o-i8m, height c. r6om), once mounted on a plinth, is decorated
89
Another variety of 'Jupiter-column,' found over a wider area1
and dating, it would seem, from a somewhat earlier period2, was
surmounted merely by a seated or standing
figure of the sky-gods. These columns were
characterised by much sculptural decoration4.
Their square plinth was regularly a Viergotter-
stein carved with deities: indeed, it seems
probable that the practice of thus adorning the
plinth began with the makers of the earlier
columns and spread from them to the makers
of the rider-and-giant series, who improved upon
the earlier plan by restricting the deities in
question to representatives of the seasons, soon
afterwards adding the heads or busts on the
capital to denote the divisions of the day, and
at the same time or but little later introducing
the Wochengottcrstein as a secondary plinth".
The shaft of the earlier columns might be left
smooth (fig. 51)", but was often patterned with
scales etc.7, and sometimes also embellished with
the figures of deities, e.g. Mercurius, Minerva,
Iuno (fig. 52)? or Hercules, Minerva, Iuno in
1 F. Hertlein op. cit. p. 5 r : ' derartige Saulen mit stehen-
dem oder thronendem Juppiter finden sich haufig ausserhalb
des Gebietes der Gigantengruppen und an der Peripherie der-
selben, wo diese sehr selten sind, wie in der Kolner Gegend'
(cp. ib. pp. 53, 158).
2 Id. ib. p. 159.
3 Hence F. Hertlein op. cit. passim would distinguish them
as ' Juppitersciiden'' from the ' JuppitergigantensaMlen' already
discussed. This convenient nomenclature is more possible in
German than in English.
4 F. Hertlein op. cit. p. 157.
5 Id. ib. pp. 159—161.
6 So in the case of the smaller column from Heddernheim
(O. Donner-von Richter and A. Riese Heddernheimer Aiisgralmngen Frankfurt am Main
1885 (an Stelle des Neujahrs-Blattes des Vereins fur Geschichte und Alterthumskunde
fur- 1885 und 1886) pi. 1, 2 f. =my fig. 51, F. Hertlein op. cit. pp. 6, 158, supra p. 71
n. 6), which has a total height of 2-30m and is accompanied by an altar o-625m high
inscribed I(pvi) O(ptimo) M(aximo).
7 F. Hertlein op.-cit. p. 158, cp. ib. p. 84.
8 Id. ib. p. 157 f. I figure the limestone altar, column, and statue found in 1880 at
Mayence among the ruins of a large Roman building and now in the Mayence Museum
(J. Keller in the Jahrb. d. Vereins v. Alterthmnsfrettnd. im Rheinl. 1881 lxx. 1 ff. pi. r,
F. Hettner in the Westdeutsche Zeitschrift 1885 iv. 37of., Korber in the Maimer Zeit-
schrift 1906 i. 62 fig., F. Hertlein op. cit. p. 157 f.). The altar (height o'5om, length
and breadth 0-315m) is inscribed I(ovi) 0{ptimo) M(aximd) \ M.P.P. j v.s.l.l.m. The
column (upper diameter o-i8m, height c. r6om), once mounted on a plinth, is decorated