hrvatski

ANTIQUE CULTS AS PATRONS OF SEAFARING AND SEAFARERS IN ISTRIA

The Istrian peninsula, set in the north Adriatic basin, is rich in potential sites where one would expect to find monuments dedicated to divinities and mythological images of patrons of the sea and of watercourses (Ningus fl, Arsia fl). In Istria, there are three colonies on the west coast (Tergeste, Parentium, Pola), municipia (Nesactium, Albona, Flanona) and numerous residential villas (Antenal, Tar, Vabriga, Loron, Červar, Sorna, Barbariga, Fažana, Valbandon and others). Compared to the numerous maritime settlements, ports, villas and docking places, contemporary investigations have revealed few epigraphs or monuments which mention ancient cults as patrons of navigation and seamen. One of the supreme Roman divinities, Neptune, had temples dedicated to him in which he was highly honoured: at the forum in Poreč (Neptunus Augustus) and in the residential maritime villa complex on the Brijuni Islands (a triad of Mars, Neptune and Venus). This is direct proof of the veneration of the cult of Neptune in established shrines in Istria. Indirect proof of the veneration of divinities as protectors of coastal cities includes relief representations of a group of oriental Greco-Roman divinities at the forum in Pula. They were found on a parapet in front of the central forum temple depicting Achelous, Jupiter Ammon, Triton, and Medusa. They fall into the well-known repertoire of decorations present in coastal Adriatic towns (Salona, Zadar, Trieste, Aquileia). It is also interesting to note that representations of Achelous and the Nereids embellished the small and large Roman theatres in Pula. A sculpture of one of the Dioscuri, a Kastor with a horse, has been discovered in Pula. Heracles, the patron of the town of Pula, was partially linked with the sea as one of the members of the crew of the Argo, on board which the Dioscuri were also present. Heracles fought against Achelous, the deity of the River Aspropotamos in Greece. Relations between Achelous, the Nereids and the horn of plenty (the cornucopia into which one of Achelous’ horns from the battle with Heracles was transformed, and which the Nereids filled with an abundance of fruit) are so intertwined that, with their symbolism, they undoubtedly indicate the protection of sailors and seamen from the colony of Pula. Even though there is an absence of small votive bronze figurines from shrines in private homes, two such figurines representing Isis-Fortune with a rudder have been discovered in Savudrija and Loron. They speak of the veneration of this cult in Roman villas on the west coast of Istria. To conclude, the overwhelming notion is that Neptune, as the supreme divinity, but also Jupiter Amon and Achelous fulfilled a function at the level of the Roman state, while the patrons of seafaring and seafarers were not as intensively venerated in private in Roman coastal settlements and villas.

ANTIQUE CULTS AS PATRONS; SEAFARING; SEAFARERS; ISTRIA

nije evidentirano

engleski

ANTIQUE CULTS AS PATRONS OF SEAFARING AND SEAFARERS IN ISTRIA

The Istrian peninsula, set in the north Adriatic basin, is rich in potential sites where one would expect to find monuments dedicated to divinities and mythological images of patrons of the sea and of watercourses (Ningus fl, Arsia fl). In Istria, there are three colonies on the west coast (Tergeste, Parentium, Pola), municipia (Nesactium, Albona, Flanona) and numerous residential villas (Antenal, Tar, Vabriga, Loron, Červar, Sorna, Barbariga, Fažana, Valbandon and others). Compared to the numerous maritime settlements, ports, villas and docking places, contemporary investigations have revealed few epigraphs or monuments which mention ancient cults as patrons of navigation and seamen. One of the supreme Roman divinities, Neptune, had temples dedicated to him in which he was highly honoured: at the forum in Poreč (Neptunus Augustus) and in the residential maritime villa complex on the Brijuni Islands (a triad of Mars, Neptune and Venus). This is direct proof of the veneration of the cult of Neptune in established shrines in Istria. Indirect proof of the veneration of divinities as protectors of coastal cities includes relief representations of a group of oriental Greco-Roman divinities at the forum in Pula. They were found on a parapet in front of the central forum temple depicting Achelous, Jupiter Ammon, Triton, and Medusa. They fall into the well-known repertoire of decorations present in coastal Adriatic towns (Salona, Zadar, Trieste, Aquileia). It is also interesting to note that representations of Achelous and the Nereids embellished the small and large Roman theatres in Pula. A sculpture of one of the Dioscuri, a Kastor with a horse, has been discovered in Pula. Heracles, the patron of the town of Pula, was partially linked with the sea as one of the members of the crew of the Argo, on board which the Dioscuri were also present. Heracles fought against Achelous, the deity of the River Aspropotamos in Greece. Relations between Achelous, the Nereids and the horn of plenty (the cornucopia into which one of Achelous’ horns from the battle with Heracles was transformed, and which the Nereids filled with an abundance of fruit) are so intertwined that, with their symbolism, they undoubtedly indicate the protection of sailors and seamen from the colony of Pula. Even though there is an absence of small votive bronze figurines from shrines in private homes, two such figurines representing Isis-Fortune with a rudder have been discovered in Savudrija and Loron. They speak of the veneration of this cult in Roman villas on the west coast of Istria. To conclude, the overwhelming notion is that Neptune, as the supreme divinity, but also Jupiter Amon and Achelous fulfilled a function at the level of the Roman state, while the patrons of seafaring and seafarers were not as intensively venerated in private in Roman coastal settlements and villas.

ANTIQUE CULTS AS PATRONS OF SEAFARING AND SEAFARERS IN ISTRIA

nije evidentirano