El objetivo de este trabajo es el estudio del ara de Cabriana (Lantarón, Álava) –HAEp 2531– dedicada a las Ninfas. El análisis detallado de la pieza permite proponer una nueva lectura e interpretación de la misma en el marco de la religión romana provincial, que modifica las valoraciones históricas anteriores.

Lan honen helburua Ninfei eskainitako (Lantaron, Araba) Cabrianako araren –HAEp 2531– ikerketa da. Piezaren azterketa zehatzak irakurketa berri bat egitea ahalbidetzen du, probintziako erlijio erromatarren markoaren barruan interpretatuz. Interpretazio honek aurreko balorazio historikoak aldatzen ditu.

This paper studies the altar HAEp 2531 discovered out of archaeological context near the Roman villa of Cabriana (Lantarón, Álava, Spain) in 1919. It is currently preserved in the BIBAT-Archaeology Museum in Vitoria-Gasteiz (Álava) with the inventory number 106. In 1925 J. Miguel de Barandiarán published it for the first time with the following transcription: Nymph / bonis et / locos, and the translation “To the good Nymphs and places”. This is the reading that has been accepted by scholars until now. The detailed analysis and review of the altar leads to suggest a new interpretation for the lines 1 and 3: Nymf(is) et / Bo·ni·s / et· Lo·co·s(acrum siue -acro), that could be translated as “Consecrated to the Nymphs and to the Good (Gods) and to the Place” or “To the Nymphs and to the Good (Gods) and to the Sacred Place”.
The absence of archaeological context or any other significant chronological indications make it difficult to date the inscription accurately. Therefore, it is only possible to estimate a broad chronology between the 2nd and 3rd centuries. The new interpretation of the text together with the examination of similar inscriptions of the Western Roman Empire change the historical
conclusions of previous studies and situate the dedication in a Roman religious context. Thus, the altar has to be understood within the framework of the principles of the well-known ancient polytheism. The inscription is dedicated to the Nymphs, the (Dii) Boni and the sacred space. The association of the Nymphs with other divinities is not surprising, since it is attested in many inscriptions. Additionally, the interpretation of the text as a dedication to a locus sacer would link these divinities with a natural space. Unfortunately, the absence of the mention of the cultor or cultores makes it impossible to determine the private or public nature of the altar.