“A farmer unearthed what?” That’s probably what people said in 1839. He found a large squared stone while plowing. This stone was no ordinary rock. We are standing before a piece of history. It is the Röm. Viergötterstein.
The Röm. Viergötterstein was once part of a Roman Jupiter column. These columns were common in Roman Germania. They served as religious monuments. They were dedicated to Jupiter. Jupiter was the highest Roman god. Villa Rusticas, Roman estates, typically featured them. The Röm. Viergötterstein was an essential part.
The name Viergötterstein tells us something. Viergötterstein means four gods stone. Each side of the Röm. Viergötterstein features a relief. Each relief depicts a Roman god. You can see Mercury, Juno, Minerva, and Hercules.
The original Röm. Viergötterstein resides in the Museum Wiesbaden. What we see here is a copy. The Verschönerungsverein Schwalbach i. Ts. placed it here in 1988. It marks the spot of the original find. The copy needed renovation and was redesigned in 2005.
The Röm. Viergötterstein that was found here in Schwalbach near Frankfurt, was part of a larger Jupiter column. These columns combined classical antiquity with Germanic beliefs. The god Jupiter often rides his horse over a crouching figure.
The Viergötterstein itself shows other deities. Juno appears in a Chiton. She is offering sacrifices at an altar. Minerva is depicted with a helmet and lance. Mercury is shown naked with a winged hat. He holds a caduceus. Hercules has a lion’s skin.
This place near the Röm. Viergötterstein is popular today. People gather here. It is a great viewpoint. You can learn about Roman history here. You can also learn about the Kronberg painter colony. Visitors enjoy stunning views. They can see Kronberg Castle. They can also see the Frankfurt skyline.
The discovery of the Röm. Viergötterstein prompted further excavation. The figure found could have been lying there for a long time. The Röm. Viergötterstein connects us to the past. It connects us to Roman beliefs. It also connects us to the land’s history.
So, remember the farmer. Remember his surprise. Remember the Röm. Viergötterstein. It stands as a testament. It is a testament to history. It is a testament to the gods. It is a testament to human curiosity. It is a testament to time.