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Vortigern Studies > Fectio > Roman Sites > Heidentempel 1974 |
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The
first was the great temple complex at Nettersheim, north
of the town of Blankenheim. Nettersheim is a regular
Roman hotspot, with no less than two temple complexes,
industrial estates, wells, aquaducts, a villa rustica and
a Roman road. Below are the pictures of the Heidentempel, the 'pagan temple'. Left are my anocient relics, right a modern comparison from a website (listed below). The left two pictures show me as a 9-year old, reaching down to the statue, flanked by my sister and brother and surrounded by more family, and how it looks today. The right two pictures show the sanctuary known as the basilica with the three of us posing as ancient statues.
The complex at Bad Münstereifel-Nöthen was dedicated to the Matronae Vacallinehae or Vocallinehae. This temple was once probably a tree sanctuary, which was changed into a Gallo-Roman sanctuary at about 50 AD (Period I). About 100 years later it was enlarged, and two earlier temples changed into a larger new building (Period II). After about 330 AD it was completely destroyed to build a totally new complex (and that with the rise of Christianity all around!), most of the remains are still visible today (click here for the plan of the site). The walls of three buildings can be seen today, the northermost (C) being a Gallo-Roman colonnaded temple. The function of the middle building (A) is not recognized, while the third building (B), known as the Basilica, may well be another temple. Fragments of a statue of Jupiter were found, dating to Period II, and a long hall (E) may point to large numbers of pilgrims. The Matronae Vacallinehae were probably the protection goddesses of the Vacalli tribe, as were the Matronae Fachinehhae from the neighbouring site at Nettersheim for the tribe of the Fachi. They protected the dwellings and blessed the fieldwork. The worshipping of three goddesses was a Celtic tradition, was was taken over by the Romans and Romanised at an early date. During the excavations many votive stones were found, but unfortunately all of them were smashed. This may have been an action by encroaching Christian influence, as the temple was destroyed about 450 AD.
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