Attention: due to customs regulations we can only ship inside the European Union. Please ensure you have a valid EU shipping address before placing a bid. A very impressive and rare Roman/Celtic lead Mystery cult plaque. Round shaped with ovolo and small dot border, plain reverse side. The plaque shows various scenes, from top to bottom: - Busts of Luna (left) and Sol (right) with serpents above. Small star to the right of Luna's bust. - Goddess holding folds of himation, likely filled with food for the horses. - Two Danubian horsemen, wearing Phrygian caps, trampling on prone female figures. Star below the front hoof of the horse on the right. - Tripod table with a fish on top. - A rooster, kantharos (urn) and an animal (dog or ram). - Three loaves of bread. -> Votive plaques of the Danubian Rider cult are among the most enigmatic religious objects of the Roman frontier provinces. Their crowded scenes, often showing mounted figures, worshippers, and divine symbols, are thought to reflect private ritual and local mystery beliefs in the Danube region. Diameter: ± 76,7 mm maximum Type: Ertl type H2 Condition: good condition, signs of wear and patina consistent with age and use. Certificate of Authenticity available upon request (pdf-format). -> This plaque is made of lead, which was a magical metal in the Roman world. Lead is traditionally associated with magic and the underworld, and is often used for votive offerings, amulets and curse tablets (defixiones). It was perceived as a material with supernatural power that had the ability to manipulate and bind living beings and evil spirits. -> The so-called Danubian Rider plaques are associated with a mystery cult that flourished in the Roman provinces along the Danube, especially in areas such as Pannonia, Moesia, and Dacia. These objects are usually made in lead or related soft metal alloys and were cast with highly symbolic scenes combining horsemen, divine figures, sacrificial elements, celestial motifs, and ritual imagery. Although many examples survive, the exact beliefs behind the cult remain only partly understood. Such plaques are important evidence for the religious diversity of the Roman Empire, especially in frontier regions where Roman, local, and eastern influences could merge into distinctive devotional traditions. Rather than representing official state religion, they seem to reflect private worship and initiatory belief. This plaque belongs to that rare and fascinating group of cult images from the Danubian world, where symbolism was rich, local, and still not fully decoded today.