3rd century AD. A group of four lead votive trapezoidal and square plaques showing scenes of a Danubian cult: on three plaques the god Sol and the goddess Luna are depicted in profile on the right and the left side of the upper part; on one plaque the sun at the top section driving the sun-chariot with four-horse (quadriga); at the centre of all plaques facing Helen of Sparta, the divine daughter of Leda and Zeus, welcoming her divine brothers, the twins Castor and Pollux, both personifying the Danubian rider; on two plaques both the riders advancing, holding the draco standard of the Roman legions; a soldier armed like a third century legionary is following the left cavalryman; two plaques with a cockerel, the sacred animal of the sun, foliage and animal symbols representing the divine power and the offerings to the gods on the fields, with scene of banquets; the eagle of Zeus at the top of three plaques; architectural elements on the background of all plaques. See Tudor, D., Corpus Monumentorum Religionis Equitum Danuviorum, 2 vols., Leiden 1969-1976; V. Vasilev, 'Two Lead Plaques with a Depiction of a Danubian Horseman from the Collection of the National Museum of the History of the Ukraine' in Ancient Civilizations from Scythia to Siberia 10,1-2, 2004, pp.67-76; Beutler F., Farka C., Gugl C., Humer F., Kremer, G. and Pollhammer, E.(ed.), Der Adler Roms, Carnuntum und die Armee der Caesaren, Bad Voslau, 2017, cat.67, for a similar plaque in bronze. 367 grams total, 79-94mm (3 - 3 3/4"). From the private collection of Antony John Scammell (1937-2019); all acquired from A. G. & S. Gillis, Barnsley, UK, in 2001; accompanied by a copy of the original invoice. The plaques contain a complex iconography of divine figures and symbols, probably to be associated with Thracian or Dacian beliefs of the Lower Danube region, but also with the Greek Myth of the divine twins Castor and Pollux (the Dioskouroi), an important element of the Roman religion too. Presiding over the whole scene is usually the Sol Invictus (the unconquered sun-god) and his sister the Moon (Selene"). His cult originated in the Near East and gained increasing influence under imperial patronage during the third century AD. The state worship of Sol (Greek Elios) was slowly substituted by Constantine's favour towards Christianity since AD 312. Antony John Scammell (1937-2019) was born, and lived his entire life, in the city of Bristol, England. Already from an early age he was enthralled by history and the heroes that it created. While serving overseas with the British Army, Antony began collecting coins and banknotes and this led to collecting a variety of different items throughout his life. From the early 1960s onward, Antony invested in acquiring ancient artefacts. Antony's vast collections started with Egyptian antiquities, but soon branched into Greek and Roman civilisations. The Roman civilisation fascinated him most and, when family commitments allowed, archaeological digs were coordinated in the west of England. These digs uncovered numerous artefacts, many of which were donated to local museums. In retirement, the collecting continued apace, branching into UK coins, British Empire banknotes and fossils. [4]