In Allmendingen, a suburb of Thun, a temple complex was excavated on various occasions: in 1824-1825 by C.F.L. Lohner, in 1926, and in the 1960's and 1990's. Today the remains are covered by a golf course. The finds were taken to the Historisches Museum Bern and the Museum Schloss Thun.
A view from Thun. The temple complex is close to the Alps. Photo: Wikimedia, Hansueli Krapf.
Plan of the temple complex and reconstruction drawing. Martin-Kilcher - Schatzmann 2010, Abb. 3.
The area measured some 90 x 70 meters and was enclosed by a wall. The main entrance was in the long south wall. In the opposite wall was a secondary entrance. In the south part of the area the foundations of a series of simple temples (without an ambulatory) and of "chapels" were found. Four buildings in the north part were houses, workshops, or used for banquets by groups of worshippers. This part of the complex was given up after a fire in the later third century. Some 1700 coins have emerged in the area, from the reign of Augustus to that of Constantine. The fragmentary nature of many of the finds has led to the suggestion that the complex was destroyed in a "Bildersturm" (iconoclasm).
View of the complex in 1967. Photo: Bossert 2000, Abb. 7.The excavators found many expensive votive offerings, some of high quality. Amongst the finds from 1824-1825 were two small heads of Attis wearing a Phrygian cap, a bronze head of Diana, and seven small inscribed axes of bronze, dedicated to Jupiter, Mercurius, Minerva, Neptunus, and to mother goddesses (Matres and Matronae).
Stone heads of Attis (h. 0.107 and 0.097). The right one is lost. Bossert 2000, Taf. 4-5.
Bronze head of Diana (h. 0.15). Photo: Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz.
Small votive axes (meas. 0.065/0.075 x 0.04 m.). Lohner 1832, Tab. 5.
Kolb et al. 2022, nrs. 312-318; EDCS-75100040, 10800558-10800563.In 1926 a base for a statue was found with the remarkable inscription ALPIBVS EX STIPE REG(io) LIND(ensis), "For the (divine) Alps. The regio Lindensis from donations". The region was probably part of an Imperial domain. Lindensis might be derived from the Celtic word for lake.
Limestone base for a statue (w. 0.72, h. 0.98, d. 0.68). Kolb et al. 2022, nr. 311; EDCS-11201818. Photo: Wikimedia, Sailko.Other discoveries from 1926 were limestone fragments of statues. Of particular interest are statues of a man and of the enthroned Jupiter. The former statue was about one and a half times life-sized, and has been assigned to the middle of the first century. The man was wreathed and wearing a toga. He may have been a priest or the founder of the complex. The enthroned Jupiter was life-sized. This statue has been dated to the middle of the second century.
Left.
Fragment of the head of Jupiter (h. 0.173). Photo: Bossert 2000 Taf. 1.
Right.
Reconstruction drawing of the enthroned Jupiter. Bossert 2000, Taf. 1.Also in 1926 a marble statuette was found of a female deity. In the right hand of the goddess are grain ears, with her left hand she holds a staff (an oar?). To her left is a rudder. She has a turreted headdress (mural crown). The deity has been interpreted as Ceres-Fortuna and Annona, the personification of food supply (of the army?).
Statuette of a female deity, perhaps Annona, and a hypothetical reconstruction with polychromy (h. incl. socle 0.62).
Photos: Wikimedia, Sailko and Kaspar 1996, Abb. 1.Amongst the other finds from 1926 were a terracotta dog and pigeon, and a gold sheet.
Terracotta dog (h. 0.145) and pigeon (h. 0.05). Photo: Wikimedia, Sailko.
Left.
Gold sheet (meas. 0.037/0.047 x 0.125). Photo: Wikimedia, Sailko.
Right.
Statuette of Venus. Photo: Wikimedia, Sailko.In 1967 two miniature dishes of tin were found, one with a depiction of Actaeus and the bathing Diana. The figures are accompanied by the words ACTHVS, for Actaeus, and DIANA.
Two miniature dishes of tin. The right one has a depiction of Actaeus and Diana (diam 0.043).
AE 2009, nr. 943; EDCS-55701943. Photo: Martin-Kilcher - Schatzmann 2009, Abb. 23.
Literature
Lohner 1832; Tschumi-Schulthess-Wegeli 1926; Bossert 1988; Drack-Fellmann 1988, 525-526; Drack-Fellmann 1991, 263-265; Bossert 1995; Martin-Kilcher 1995; Kaspar 1996; Martin-Kilcher 2000; Bossert 2000; Martin-Kilcher 2002; Martin-Kilcher 2008; Frey-Kupper 2009; Martin-Kilcher - Schatzmann 2009; Martin-Kilcher - Schatzmann 2010.
[1-Nov-2023]
