Gallo-römischer Tempelbezirk - Tawern
N 49° 39.835 E 006° 30.609
32U E 320328 N 5504241
Quick Description: An in-situ reconstruction of a Roman temple precinct on the Metzenberg hill near the German town of Tawern.
Location: Germany
Date Posted: 3/18/2007 1:37:53 PM
Waymark Code: WM1ATP
Views: 97
Long Description:The area was excavated and partly reconstructed in 1986 and 1987.
Mercury, the god of crafts, trade, and transport, was the
principal deity of the temple precinct of Metzenberg. Five
inscriptions found at the site name him. The slightly larger than
lifesize limestone head found in the precinct well is from a statue
of Mercury. An altar was dedicated to Mercury and Apollo, god of
light and healing. Two reliefs show the gallic horse-goddess Epona
and the Egyptian divine couple of Isis and Serapis. The finds are
housed at the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier.
The finds from the well also shed light on the end of the
Romano-Celtic temple precinct at Tawern. A coin minted at the end
of the 4th or the beginning of the 5th century was found deep in
the well. It provides evidence that the well had not yet been
destroyed at this time. Emperor Theodosius finally prohibited the
practice of pagan religions in AD 392. The temples and dedications
from the holy precinct were subsequently destroyed and thrown piece
by piece into the well.
You park your car at N49 40.035 E6 30.767 and walk the rest of
the way up the hill along a paved path to the temple area.