Juno

Description

The treasure trove of Weißenburg, Roman Biriciana, belongs with its almost 150 objects (statuettes, silver votive offerings, vessels, parts of parade armour, iron tools) to the most important discoveries of a hoard north of the Alps. It was discovered by chance while gardening in 1979. Numerous objects obviously originated in a religious context, probably from a sanctuary. They had been buried – probably once packed into a crate – during the turmoil of the period between 233 and 250. Among the 16 bronze statuettes of Roman gods, genies and heroes is a statue of Juno, standing on a base. Juno, wife of Jove and guardian of family and marriage, belonged together with Jove and Minerva to the highest-ranking Roman deities. The goddess is standing upright and is wrapped in a heavily draped garment. She wears the signs of divine dignity, diadem and sceptre. Only the attribute of the right hand – a bowl for libations – and both forefingers are missing. The figure is conceived as planar and made for being seen only from the front. Since the statuette displays purely Roman but no provincial features, it may originate in a north Italic workshop of the second century. The statue is produced in the technique of hollow casting, the base was found separately. It bears a two-line inscription that refers to the weight of the bronze and to the precious metal used for the statuette.