ARA MARTIS.NOTES ON AN ANEPIGRAPHIC ALTAR FROM DACIA

The study analyzes a monument published in 1916 by Buday Árpád, who considered it a funerary altar. It is mentioned that it belonged to the museum’s old collection, without any reference to the place of discovery, only that it came from Transylvania. All the interpretations from previous publications are unanimous in considering this altar as funerary, despite the absence of any funerary symbolism. The shape and decoration of the altar, as well as the presence of the focus, are typical for votive altars in the province of Dacia. The altar belongs to the category of altars with the capital decorated with a triangular pediment and puluini. The type of the altar, the Jovian symbolism and even this main representation argue for interpreting the monument in a religious context. The figure with the armour, helmet, sword or pugio and the spear in his left hand is, in fact, a naïve representation, typical of provincial art, of the god Mars.