engleski

Some symbolic aspects of the cult of the dead in Liburnian culture

On the eastern Adriatic the cult of the dead is best known in Liburnian culture (from the river Raša to the river Krka), besides Histrian culture (Istria). However, Liburnian funerary rites and beliefs are not well known because of poor state of exploration and the nature of the "archaeological" culture. That is why only chosen aspects of that cult are analysed on this ocassion, which are also (possibly) symbolic. I The meaning of the grave recipients Liburns do not put them beside the deceased. That is why the exceptions are very important: a) using just one small pot as a grave offering in some graves from the beginning of the Iron Age, b) using greater amount of pots in certain large Hellenistic family vaults (Nadin) dating to 4-1 century BC. All cups/glasses are local products, but some of them (grave 85 from Nin) imitate foreign ones, e.g. forms from Picenum "kothom". Sometimes they are replaced by an imported form such as an Apulian askos (grave 23 from Nin), which is a type often presented on Daunian stelae in funerary rite scenes (banquet, libation). Liburnian cups/glasses point to a rite with a liquid intended for the deceased. In the Hellenistic concentration of the recipients (Nadin) imported forms for mixing and drinking wine are dominant. Therefore it is possible to offer thesis about Liburnian concept of the « funerary» banquet of the deceased in the context of similar funerary phenomena on the (western) Adriatic and in the wider region. Potential funerary banquet is most evident (for now) in the necropolises of the planned type (system of the funerary celae), appearing in Liburnia and elsewhere (Picenum and southern Italy) since the 4th century BC in the context of Hellenization. Poorly known problem of the spatial structural relations of Liburnian necropolises (flat ones, with mounds) during the entire Iron Age is also discussed briefly. II Infant funerals Special (ritual?) meaning of the infant graves is emphasized, either in traditional cist (Nadin etc) or "enchytrismos" type, in a large clay pot (Nin, Ričul). III Proposition of an ideal reconstruction of "male" and "female" (funerary) clothes IV Liburnian "system" of signs and potential iconic symbols Remains of such system are: swastika, anthropomorphized swastika, wheel/disc, bird ("bird boat/cart"), horse, man. Dynamics of the Liburnian culture is well presented by iconographic-stylistic (and semantic) changes of the anthopomorphic presentation, from long-lasting Liburnian geometrism and non-figurativity to relatively pronounced Hellenistic "concreteness", often presented in silver. The symbolics of motifs bird/horse boat, man, swastika is most probable, which are applied on unique Liburnian artifacts (pectorals, some fibula types, belts, pendants) in funerary context.

cult of the dead; Liburnian culture

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