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- Title
The cult of Iupiter Dolichenus in the Central European Barbaricum?: "Újezd u Rosic – Hlohovec – Berlin-Lichtenberg".
- Authors
Jílek Ph.D., Jan; Nejedlá Ph.D., Alena; Kvetánová Ph.D., Ivana; Selucká, Alena; Lukeš, Ladislav
- Abstract
The study evaluates and interprets a new discovery of fragments of a triangular votive tablet for Jupiter Dolichenus from Újezd u Rosic, District of Brno-Land (Moravia, Czech Republic) and places it in the context of Central European barbaricum and the Roman Middle Danube region. The fragments of the votive tablet from Újezd u Rosic testify, due to their individual appearance in the landscape, more to the ritual behavior of the local barbarian population than to the loss of an object. The presence of the votive tablet outside the Roman border can hypothetically be associated with the events of the Marcomannic Wars or with the period of unrest between the Germanic tribes and Roman power under the late Severans. The present study examines the relationship of the barbarians to the cult of Jupiter Dolichenus based on the discovery of fragments of a triangular dedicatory plaque in Újezd u Rosic, Czech Republic. The fragments show relief decoration with vegetative and zoomorphic motifs as well as a coating with white metal. The finds are the first of their kind in the Czech Republic and differ from finds in Slovakia for which no origin data is available. The elemental composition of the copper alloy of the plaque as well as the characteristics of its decoration and coating are analyzed. The fragments are kept in the South Moravian Museum in Znojmo. The article describes the decorative fields of triangular plaques, which were probably used as military standards. The plaques were likely carried in processions to worship a deity and could have been valuable dedicatory gifts. They are divided into three main fields: atmospheric part (sun and moon), deities, and terrestrial part (Castores). The plaques also contain representations of male figures in military attire, likely representing the Dolichenian canon. The plaques were decorated using a special technique typical of the Göldenitz group and dated to the late 2nd to early 3rd century. The exact dating of the finds from Újezd u Rosic is difficult, but they could date from the 2nd or 3rd century. The Burg-Kumpfmühl treasure (Fig. 7,2-4) dates from the 3rd century and was discovered during the Marcomannic Wars in 170/172 AD. The treasure trove contains a bowl from the Weissenburg treasure, which is dated to the 230s or the mid-3rd century. The popular decorative motifs are also found on other parts of Roman armor dating to the end of the 2nd century and the 3rd century. The treasure trove could date from the second half of the 2nd century to the beginning of the 3rd century. The chemical analysis of the treasure trove shows that it consists of a thin sheet of metal coated with an alloy of copper, zinc, and tin. The treasure trove was likely made through hammering and chasing. The cult of Jupiter Dolichenus spread mainly through soldiers, traders, and officials connected to the military and provincial administration. The article deals with the cult of Jupiter Dolichenus in the Middle Danube region and in Central European barbaricum. It is noted that the cult already existed under Hadrian and spread further during the Severan dynasty.
- Subjects
CZECH Republic; BRNO (Czech Republic); METAL coating; COPPER alloys; ALLOYS; BRITANNIA metal; MILITARY administration; CULTS; PROCESSIONS; SOCIAL unrest
- Publication
Praehistorische Zeitschrift, 2024, Vol 99, Issue 1, p200
- ISSN
0079-4848
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1515/pz-2023-2008