Archaeological Museum of Bologna

In the larger worship places with monumental installations of the Po Valley is frequently the discovery of this type of contoured stones in the shape of small altars, which were to constitute the elements of furniture of the most important sacred areas.

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Their function was to support, usually in open-air spaces, of ex-voto: bronze statuettes often have little pieces beneath their feet in order to fix them to the stones. The type of stone comes from the Appenninic area, and and the facility in cutting it makes this stone really useful in creation different forms, even more complexes and articulated.

Provenance: Bologna, Villa Cassarini sanctuary
Datation: c. 6-5 century BC
Material: limestone
Dimensions: height cm 78,5
Inventory #: SBAER 41416