• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Archaeology

Unique gold artifact discovered at Roman fort in Georgia may hint at lost temple dedicated to god of war

by Dario Radley
November 3, 2024

Archaeologists have made a series of remarkable discoveries at the Roman fort of Apsaros in present-day Georgia, highlighting the site’s religious, economic, and military significance during the Roman period.

Unique gold artifact discovered at Roman fort in Georgia may hint at lost temple dedicated to god of war
Fragments of the mosaic within the residence of the garrison commander. Credit: Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski / PCMA UW

The Polish-Georgian team, led by Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski from the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology (University of Warsaw) and Lasha Aslanishvili from Georgia’s Cultural Heritage Protection Agency of Adjara, conducted excavations from mid-May to late July 2024.

Among the season’s most remarkable finds was a thin gold votive plaque dedicated to Jupiter Dolichenus, an ancient Roman deity associated with war and revered by soldiers. The plaque, inscribed in Greek, reflects a unique merging of cultural elements, combining the attributes of the Roman god Jupiter, known for storm and lightning, with Dolichenus, a Near Eastern thunder deity whose cult originated in what is now southeastern Turkey.

The team believes that the discovery of this plaque suggests the presence of a sanctuary dedicated to Jupiter Dolichenus near the Apsaros fort, which has yet to be found. According to Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski, “We hope that further research will not only find the temple of Jupiter of Dolichenus at Apsaros, but also confirm that Oriental influence spread west and north to many garrisons.” Such a sanctuary would likely have served as a place where Roman soldiers made offerings in hopes of securing the deity’s favor in battle.

Unique gold artifact discovered at Roman fort in Georgia may hint at lost temple dedicated to god of war
The gold votive plaque just after its discovery. Credit: Natalia Lockley / PCMA UW

The excavation also revealed the remains of kilns used for producing amphorae—ceramic vessels often used to store and transport wine. This discovery, combined with an earlier find of a wine press, indicates that Apsaros was likely a center for local wine production. The amphorae, known as Colchian amphorae, were commonly used around the Black Sea region, supporting the theory that local wine was produced and exported from this location. “We can therefore assume that the amphorae were filled with local wine and exported to other garrisons and ports on the Black Sea,” Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski shared with Newsweek.

RelatedStories

Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning

Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning

May 31, 2025
Stunning 1,600-year-old Byzantine mosaic unveiled in the Negev Desert of Israel

Stunning 1,600-year-old Byzantine mosaic unveiled in the Negev Desert of Israel

May 27, 2025

Another noteworthy finding at Apsaros was a mosaic within the residence of the garrison commander, known as Arrian’s House. This mosaic, which the archaeologists believe suffered displacement due to an earthquake, displays fragments of red and pink lines on a white background, hinting at a geometric design. “Due to the extensive damage to the new mosaic, we are still analyzing and piecing together its pattern,” Lockley noted, adding that some of the most fragile sections have been moved to a local museum for preservation.

Unique gold artifact discovered at Roman fort in Georgia may hint at lost temple dedicated to god of war
The excavation also revealed the remains of kilns used for producing amphorae. Credit: Marcin Matera / PCMA UW

The excavations at Apsaros, situated in Georgia’s modern-day Adjara region near Batumi, highlight the fort’s strategic role during the Roman period as a military base and a port on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. Established around 2,000 years ago, Apsaros played a pivotal role during the reigns of emperors Trajan and Hadrian, helping Rome secure its influence in the region.

Source: Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw (PCMA UW)


Stay updated with us! Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, and Linkedin, and join our WhatsApp and Telegram channels for the latest in archaeology, all directly on your favorite platforms!
ShareTweetShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Viking-era silver treasure and farm discovered in Täby, Sweden
Archaeology

Viking-era silver treasure and farm discovered in Täby, Sweden

June 1, 2025
maya-collapse-was-transformation-
Anthropology

Ancient DNA reveals Maya collapse was a transformation, not extinction

June 1, 2025
Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago
Archaeology

Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago

May 31, 2025
Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning
Anthropology

Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning

May 31, 2025
18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist
Archaeology

18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

May 30, 2025
Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite
Archaeology

Three ancient Egyptian tombs unearthed near Luxor reveal secrets of New Kingdom elite

May 30, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
105K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

May 28, 2025
Stunning 1,600-year-old Byzantine mosaic unveiled in the Negev Desert of Israel

Stunning 1,600-year-old Byzantine mosaic unveiled in the Negev Desert of Israel

May 27, 2025
Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

December 15, 2024
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

Viking-era silver treasure and farm discovered in Täby, Sweden

Viking-era silver treasure and farm discovered in Täby, Sweden

June 1, 2025
maya-collapse-was-transformation-

Ancient DNA reveals Maya collapse was a transformation, not extinction

June 1, 2025
Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago

Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago

May 31, 2025
Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning

Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning

May 31, 2025
18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

18th-century gold mourning ring unearthed in Norfolk field by detectorist

May 30, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.