Das Heiligtum des Jupiter Optimus Maximus auf dem Pfaffenberg/Carnuntum

In terms of landscape and geography, Hainburg’s mountains formed the scenic background of the Roman camp Carnuntum. In front, the flattened ridge of the Pfaffenberg Mountain with a length of around 500m (cadastral municipality Hainburg an der Donau) offered the ideal conditions for a Mountain of the Gods in terms of ancient urbanism. This second volume available now of the complete Pfaffenberg works presents the round sculptures. These were discovered during the excavations in the years 1970 – 1985 and are supplemented by several findings from previous diggings. The round sculptures comprise around 40 statues of differing size and quality. All but one marble statue are made of local limestone. Among them are at least 11 statues of Jupiter sitting on his throne that were erected as cultic statues or sacred monuments. Some of these partially larger than life-size representations of Jupiter feature interesting details that appear to lend special emphasis to the sanctuary on the Pfaffenberg.