CIMRM 845, 846, 847 - Three altars. Carrawburgh, Britain

These three altars are now at the Great North Museum (Hancock) in Newcastle on Tyne.

a: AE 1951, 125b = RIB 1, 1545: D(eo) In(victo) M(ithrae) s(acrum) / Aul(us) Cluentius / Habitus pra(e)f(ectus) / coh(ortis) I / Batavorum / domu Ulti/n(i)a colon(ia) / Sept(imia) Aur(elia) L(arino) / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)

b: AE 1951, 125a = RIB 1, 1544: Deo Inv(icto) M(ithrae) / L(ucius) Antonius / Proculus / praef(ectus) coh(ortis) I Bat(avorum) Antoninianae / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)

c: AE 1951, 125c = RIB 1, 1546: Deo Invicto / Mit(h)rae M(arcus) Sim/plicius Simplex / pr(a)ef(ectus) v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)

Note that a is on the right, b in the middle, c on the left.

By Alun Salt, 2005, and originally posted to Flickr.

CIMRM entry

845.
Altar in sandstone (H. 1.17 Br. 0.53). The capital with focus and bolsters.
JRS XL, 1950, 114f and Pl. XIII; Richmond-Gillam, 48f and Pl. XI, A; ILN 1951,455.
Deo inv(icto) M(ithrae) / L(ucius) Antonius / Proculus / Praef(ectus) coh(ortis) I Bat(avorum) / Antoninianae / v(otum) s(olvit) I(ibens) m(erito).
Antoninianae: between 212-222 A.D.
846.
Altar in sandstone (H. 1.07 Br. 0.47).
ILN 1951, 455; Richmond-Gillam, 45ff and. Pl. XI, A.
D(eo) in(victo) M(ithrae) s(acrum) / Anl(us) Cluentius / Habitus pra(e)f(ectus) / coh(ortis) I /Batavorum / domu Ulti/n(i)a Colon(ia) / Sept(imia) Aur(elia) L(arino) / v(otum) s(olvit) I(ibens) m(erito).
On either side of Coh. I an ivy leaf.
The dedicator belongs to the family of Aulus Cluentius Habitus, defended by Cicero in 66 B.C.
As appears from this inscription, Larinum became a colonia between 198-208 A.D. (E. Birley).
847.
Altar in sandstone (H. 1.24 Br. 0.46).
ILN 1951, 455; Richmond-Gillam, Pl. XII, B.
"The sides of the die are plain, the top of the capital flat; its face has four leaves with a trisceles in the centre. A cavity l0 ins. wide has been cut at the back of the capital to carry a lamp. On the upper part pf the die in-low relief is the upper part of Mithras facing front, with arms set at his waist, as he rises from the rock. His cloak covers his body and l. arm; in his r.h. he holds a whip. His head is framed by a panel of ornament, and the rays of his crown are formed by pierced openings through which a lamp, placed in the cavity could throw light. The god's cloak and hair and the inscribeg letters retain their red paint, and the panel of ornament has red paint alternating with some other colour, which has worn away" (JRS 1951). It has thefollowing inscr.:
848.
Deo invicto / Mithrae M(arcus) Sim/plicius Simplex / pr(a)ef(ectus) v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito).
After Deo an ivy-leaf; after invicto a palmbranch.
It seems to me, that we have a representation of Sol: cf. Ostia: No. 267.
For bearers of the name M. Simplicius, see: Birley in Richmond-Gillam, 49ff who points at some inscriptions dedicated to the goddess Vagdavercustis. "The weight of evidence points to Lower Germany, and we shall not be far wrong in supposing that the prefect of Carrawburgh looked on V. as his patron goddess, when he was not preoccupied with the worship of Mithras".

Note that the image above shows the three from right to left.(RP)