Archaeologists might have found a winged statuette of the Roman god Victoria in Gloucester

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

A retired Roman veteran could have owned a statuette of the formidable Victoria whose wing has been discovered in Gloucester, say its finders

The ancient wing of a bronze sculpture found in Gloucester could have been part of a statuette of Victoria, the goddess of victory and Roman equivalent of Nike.

Experts initially thought the thickly-soiled wing, recovered from an earthen bank behind the Roman city wall and x-rayed to show details of plumage and flight feathers, came from a figurine of an eagle – the Roman army’s symbol of strength and prowess, linked to the god Jupiter. But Dr Martin Henig, of the University of Oxford, thinks the wing was Victoria's, owned by a retired Roman soldier.

“Wings that are eagle-like in form are also a feature of Victoria,” says Dr Henig. “The form and some other details of the Gloucester wing make it likely that it comes from a winged victory statuette.

“Finds of Roman bronze sculpture are extremely rare finds from Britain, and very few depictions of Victoria or eagles are known from the province.”

Cotswold Archaeology, whose team found the wing as part of a three-year investigation of a planned housing site in the Greyfriars area, say the wing is more likely to have been detached from a likeness of Jupiter than an eagle from a Roman legionary standard. They also believe it could have represented Mercury, the messenger god who had wings on his helmet or heels.

Developers Lindon Homes will donate the wing to Gloucester Museums once several months of analysis have been carried out on it.

“This find once again demonstrates that Gloucester was a high ranking city in Roman Britain,” says Neil Holbrook, from the archaeological group.

“Its public spaces must have been equipped with a number of bronze statues of gods and emperors. They would have formed a constant visual reminder of the heart of the Roman empire for the discharged army veterans who made up most of the population of the Roman city.”

The remains of a 13th century friary church are still visible adjacent to the site.

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Three places to meet the Romans in

The Roman Baths, Bath
The magnificent epicentre to the complex allows you to walk on the ancient cobbled pathways as the Romans did 2,000 years ago. The Great Bath that lies below street level can also be viewed from the Terrace, which is adorned with statues and shadowed by the great Abbey. Other chambers to explore include the remains of the ancient heated rooms and changing rooms as well as tepid and plunge pools.

Wrest Park, Luton
Roman architecture catches the attention in these gardens - a mix of open space and sheltered woodland walks, complimented by expanses of water in which the trees and great buildings are reflected.

National Roman Legion Museum, Newport
See how the Romans lived, slept and ate; how they marched and practised for battle; which gods they worshipped and which jewels they wore and valued.

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/history-and-heritage/archaeology/art556252-cotswold-gloucester-roman-wing-statuette-victory