Barkway

Temple Or Shrine

In 1743 a Roman temple treasure hoard was found during small-scale quarrying on Periwinkle Hill, at about 150m on the north Chilterns chalk ridge, at what is now Rokey Wood, near Barkway. The temple was probably dedicated to Mars, the Roman god of war, who is often mentioned and depicted on the objects in the hoard.

RIB 218 - Dedication to Mars Alator

To the god Mars Alator Dum(…) Censorinus, son of Gemellus, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

D MARTI ALATORI
DVM CENSORINVS
GEMELLI FIL
V S L M

These votive offerings had probably been affixed to wood and looted from a shrine somewhere on the line of the Roman road, Ermine Street. 1.  Mars Alator. See RIB 1055 (South Shields) Mart(i) Ala(tori). Alator is a local Celtic name, and probably means ‘huntsman’, Roscher Lexikon s.v. Mars p. 2396; Holder s.v. Alator. 2.  Dum. There seems to be no parallel for Dumnonius as a nomen. Dumerius occurs as a nomen (CIL xii 3979). It is possible that Dum. is abbreviated from a local epithet of Mars Alator, cf. Mars Ocelus Vellaunus at Caerwent (RIB 309).

RIB 219 - Dedication to Mars Toutatis

To Mars Toutatis, Tiberius Claudius Primus, freedman of Attius, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.

MARTI
TOVTATI
TI CLAVDIVS PRIMVS
ATTII LIBER
V S L M

For Mars Toutatis (also Teutatis, Totatis, Tutatis) see CIL iii 5320 = CIL iii 11721 Seckau (ILS 4566) Marti … Toutati; CIL vi 31182 (ILS 4691) Toutati; Lucan i 445 and Lactantius Divin. Inst. 1, 21 Teutates.Huebner’s restoration Ma(rti) Tutati on RIB 1017 can not be accepted.

RIB 220 - Dedication to Volcanus

To the deity Volcanus.

NV VLCO

See RIB 846 (Maryport) Numen Volcan[i]. For a discussion on Vulcan in the Celtic pantheon see Goodchild, Antiq. J 27 (1947) 84.

References for Barkway

  • The Roman Inscriptions of Britain by R.G. Collingwood and R.P. Wright (Oxford 1965). 

Map References for Barkway

NGRef: TL 37399 35802 OSMap: LR154?

Roman Roads near Barkway

N (7) to Wimpole Lodge S (9) to Bravghing

Sites near Barkway