Ricerc@Sapienza

The Romans used the terms arae and altaria to refer to altars. These two terms were often used without distinction although folk etymology suggests a difference (morphological and in use) between the two objects. In a recent study, Valentino Gasparini advanced the hypothesis that the altaria, faithful representation of which could be seen in a Pompeian painting preserved in the sanctuary of Isis, were transportable objects. Analysis of some ancient reliefs seems to support further development of this hypothesis, offering the opportunity also to identify some fixed structures of different forms. Based on this possibility, we discuss the functions of some objects commonly interpreted as candelabra and of some bases normally defined as arae.