River-god Tyne

The Romans believed that all rivers had a god who blessed the community living by the water. This idea was taken up in 1786 when nine masks were created to adorn the Strand front of Somerset House, London, during rebuilding. They represented eight English rivers, with the Ocean in the centre.

River-god Tyne was represented by a head having a beard in three plaits and surmounted by a basket containing coals and surrounded by various emblems of trades of the district.

There are several versions of the river god around Newcastle, including a 1968 sculpture at the Civic Centre. I haven’t seen this, but apparently it is rather impressive. This one is high up on a building just outside Central Station and I saw it as I went in for my train this afternoon. Hard to tell what he has on his head!