Finely Preserved 1,600-Year-Old Roman 'Protective Spirit' Statue Unearthed Near Hadrian's Wall
Photo: Boudewijn Huysmans / Unsplash
Archaeologists at the Vindolanda Fort in Northumberland have discovered a remarkably intact sandstone statue representing a 'genius,' or protective spirit, meant to bring security and prosperity. Deliberately buried long ago, this rare find offers a beautiful and tangible connection to the daily life and spiritual practices of the Roman Empire in Britain.
Archaeologists at the Vindolanda Fort in Northumberland have discovered a remarkably intact sandstone statue representing a ‘genius,’ or protective spirit, meant to bring security and prosperity. Deliberately buried long ago, this rare find offers a beautiful and tangible connection to the daily life and spiritual practices of the Roman Empire in Britain.