The Tiber as archive of Roman religious history

myminifactory

In the late nineteenth century, excavations near Ponte Umberto uncovered a vast collection of undecorated votive artifacts during construction on the Tiber embankment between Ponte Umberto and Ponte della Marmorata. The majority of these finds were made from terracotta, including statues, heads, half-heads, ex-votos representing body parts, statuettes, and ceramics. Several inscribed objects were also discovered: small offering bases, vases, cups, and other items. A significant number of these artifacts (approximately a thousand are housed in the National Roman Museum alone) were found near Ponte Umberto, on Via di Monte Brianzo, with a clear view of the Isola Tiberina. Their context suggests that they were originally votive offerings deposited in favissae, which were likely excavated along riverbanks connected to nearby shrines. These artifacts primarily date back to the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC.