Roman Statue of Protective Spirit Unearthed Near Hadrian’s Wall

Archaeologists in Northumberland, England discovered a 1.5 foot-tall Roman statue of a “genius,” a protective spirit, buried beneath the floor of a 4th Century military barracks at Vindolanda Fort near Hadrian’s Wall. The sandstone figure, carved around 1,600 years ago, depicts the genius holding a cornucopia symbolizing abundance.

Dr. Andrew Birley found the statue on June 16 while excavating the site, which has been studied by his family for nearly a century.

While inscriptions to genii are common in Roman Britain, surviving stone carvings are rare. The statue was deliberately hidden, suggesting its importance to those stationed at the fort.

The discovery provides insight into the religious beliefs and practices of Roman soldiers stationed on the northwest frontier of the Empire. The statue is undergoing conservation and will soon be displayed in the Vindolanda museum.