Minerva's Shrine, Chester

Minerva's Shrine, Chester

Coordinates: 53°11′03″N 2°53′21″W / 53.1843°N 2.8893°W / 53.1843; -2.8893

Minerva's Shrine
Minerva's Shrine
Location: Edgar's Field, Handbridge, Chester, England
OS grid reference: SJ 406 656
Built: 2nd century
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated: 28 July 1955
Reference #: 1375783
Minerva's Shrine, Chester is located in Cheshire
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Location in Cheshire

Minerva's Shrine, Chester, is a shrine to the Roman goddess, Minerva, in Edgar's Field, Handbridge, Chester, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building.[1]

The shrine dates from the early 2nd century and is carved into the face of a sandstone quarry.[1] It is the only monument of its kind in Western Europe that remains in its original location.[2] It is protected by a 19th-century stone surround with a hood and it was refurbished in the late 20th century.[1] The carving has weathered over the centuries and has also been damaged by human activity. Next to the shrine is an opening into the rock face which is possibly a natural fissure that has been enlarged and which is known as 'Edgar's Cave'.[2]

The shrine stands beside the route of the old main Roman road into the fortress from the south. Minerva was the Roman goddess of war, knowledge and craftsmanship. She is often depicted with her attributes of helmet, shield, breastplate, and spear, but in this instance, she is shown in a simplified form, standing in a representation of a temple.[3] The Roman quarry, together with Edgar's field and the image of Minerva, are a Scheduled Monument.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Roman shrine to Minerva, Chester", The National Heritage List for England (English Heritage), 2011, http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/resultsingle.aspx?uid=1375783, retrieved 29 April 2011 
  2. ^ a b Minerva's Shrine, Chester City Council, archived from the original on 27 September 2007, http://web.archive.org/web/20070927213557/http://www.chester.gov.uk/tourism_and_leisure/heritage_trails/discover_edgars_field/minerva_shrine.aspx, retrieved 3 September 2007 
  3. ^ Langtree, Stephen; Comyns, Alan, eds. (2001), 2000 Years of Building: Chester's Architectural Legacy, Chester: Chester Civic Trust, p. 29, ISBN 0-9540152-0-7 
  4. ^ Roman quarry including Edgar's Cave and the rock-cut figure of Minerva on Edgar's Field, 150m south west of Dee Bridge (1014718). National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 30 October 2011.

External links

Media related to Minerva's Shrine, Chester at Wikimedia Commons

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