Lead plaques of the so-called Danubian Riders from Serdica and the surrounding territory

Authors

  • Mario Ivanov Department of Classical Archaeology, National Institute of Archaeology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Saborna Str., 1000 Sofia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.57573/be-ja.13.209-232

Keywords:

Lead plaques, Danubian Riders, Serdica, cult

Abstract

The lead plaques of the so-called Danubian Riders significantly outnumber their stone counterparts. In the last fifteen years several new items have been discovered in Sofia and its surrounding territory. The reliefs have identical form and iconography which suggests their manufacturing in the same workshop that should be located in Serdica according to the recent finds. The archaeological context of the monuments provides good evidence for the date of the reliefs in the last quarter of the 3rd – beginning of the 4th c. AD. Several characteristics of the plaques suggest their use rather as phylacteries and personal amulets or in domestic shrines. The growing influence of Christianity most probably is the reason for discarding the discussed reliefs of the Danubian Riders around the middle of the 4th c. AD.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Benžarević, T. 2011. Contribution to the identification of the goddess on monuments of the Danubian Horseman cult. Journal of Serbian Archaeological Society 27, 83–104.

Bondoc, D. 2018. The representations of Danubian Horsemen from Ciupercenii Vechi, Dolj County. In Popescu, M., Achim, I., Matei-Popescu, F. (eds) La Dacie et l’Empire romain. Mélanges d’épigraphie et d’archéologie offerts à Constantin C. Petolescu. Bucarest: Editura Academiei Române, 229–257.

Cumont, F. 1938. Les “Cavaliers Danubiens”. Revue archéologique 12, 67–70.

Dimitrova-Milcheva, A. 1980. Antichni gemi i kamei ot Natsionalnia arheologicheski muzei v Sofia. Sofia: Septemvri (in Bulgarian).

Ertl, R. 1996. Donaureiter Bleivotivtafeln. Versuch einer Typologie. Petronell-Carnuntum: Publikazionen des Museumsvereines Petronell-Carnintum Auxiliarkastell.

Ertl, R. 2014. Neue Donaureiter-Bleivotivtafeln entdeckt. Almogaren 44–45, 99–134.

Fischer, T. 2012. Die Armee der Caesaren. Archäologie und Geschichte. Regensburg: Verlag Friedrich Pustet

Hainzmann, M. 2017. Aesculapius et Hygia als Dii Maiores? Studia Europaea Gnesnensia 16, 259–279.

Gushterakliev, R., Dimitrova, M. 2017. Katalog Arheologichesko nasledstvo – Loveshka oblast. Lovech: InfoVizhan.

Ivanov, M. 2006. Heros Equitans on gravestones from Lower Moesia and Thrace (1st–4th century AD). In Boteva-Boyanova, D. (ed.) Image and Cult in Ancient Thrace. Some Aspects of the Formation of the Thracian Imagery Language. Veliko Tarnovo: Faber, 80–128.

Ivanov, M. 2010. Tombstones with relief images from Serdica and vicinity on the threshold of Late Antiquity (last quarter of 3rd – beginning of 4th century). In Pencheva, E. (ed.) Stephanos archaeologicos in honorem Professoris Stephcae Angelova (Studia Archaeolgica Unversitatis Serdicensis, suppl. V). Sofia: Faber, 375–404 (in Bulgarian with English abstract).

Ivanov, M. 2011. Equites danuvini Serdicenses. The chronology and distribution of these monuments. Arheologia 2, 123–127 (in Bulgarian with English abstract).

Ivanov, R. 1999. The defence system along the Lower Danube between Dorticum and Durostorum from Augustus to Mauricius. Sofia: ALEA (in Bulgarian with English abstract).

Ivanov, R., Donevski, P. 2008. Two votive reliefs of Epona from the Novae region. In Gencheva, E. (ed.) Studia in honorem Alexandrae Dimitrova-Milcheva. Southeastern Europe in the Antiquity 6th century BC – early 7th century AD. Veliko Tarnovo: Faber, 187–188 (in Bulgarian with English abstract).

Junkelmann, M. 2008a. Die Reiter Roms. Teil I: Reise, Jagd, Triumph und Circusrennen. Mainz am Rhein: Verlag Philipp von Zabern (4 Auflage).

Junkelmann, M. 2008b. Die Reiter Roms. Teil II: Der militärische Einsatz. Mainz am Rhein: Verlag Pfilipp von Zabern (4 Auflage).

Junkelmann, M. 2008c. Die Reiter Roms. Teil III: Zubechör, Retweise, Bewaffning. Mainz am Rhein: Verlag Philipp von Zabern (4 Auflage).

Katsarov, G. 1924. Pametnici na religioznia sinkretizam v stara Trakia. Izvestia na Balgarskia arheologicheski institut 1.2, 1921–1922 (printed 1924), 137–145 (in Bulgarian).

Katsarova, V. 2005. Pautalia i neynata teritoria prez 1–6 vek. Veliko Tarnovo: Faber (in Bulgarian).

Krunić, S. 1995. Unpublished icons of the Danubian Horseman from Singidunum and Lower Pannonia. Starinar 45–46, 163–172 (in Serbian with English abstract).

Lyubenova, V. 1985. Antichen targovski i proizvodstven tsentar kray Radomir. Arheologia 3, 26–37 (in Bulgarian).

Lyubenova, V. 1989. Razkopkite pri mahala Arbanas (Radomir) prez 1988 g. Arheologicheski otkritia i razkopki prez 1988 g. Kardzhali, 102–103 (in Bulgarian).

Lyubenova, V. 2003. Ancient and Early Byzantine settlements along the upper reaches of the Struma (Excavation data from the second half of the 20th century). In Ivanov, R. (ed.) Roman and Early Byzantine settlements in Bulgaria. Sofia: Ivray, 183–201 (in Bulgarian with English abstract).

Lyubenova, V. 2008. A relief depicting the so-called Danubian Horsemen from the excavations at Arbanas quarter, the town of Radomir. In Gencheva, E. (ed.) Studia in honorem Alexandrae Dimitrova-Milcheva. Southeastern Europe in the Antiquity 6th century BC – early 7th century AD. Veliko Tarnovo: Faber, 189–199 (in Bulgarian with English abstract).

Madzharov, M. 2009. Roman Roads in Bulgaria. Contribution to the development of Roman road system in the provinces of Moesia and Thrace. Veliko Tarnovo: Faber.

Malbašić, V. 2021. U potrazi za neimenovanom boginjom: Kult podunavskih konjanika – paradigma ili zabluda. Sremska Mitrovica: Blago Sirmijuma (in Serbian).

Matei-Popescu, F. 2021. (Dii) Maiores at Histria (ISM I 298). Arhitecturǎ. Restaurare. Arheologie. In honorem Monica Mǎrgineanu Cârstoiu. Bucureşti: Editura A.R.A., 282–289.

Mladenova, Y. 1958. Belezhki varhu izobrazheniata na Dunavskite konnitsi. In Beshevliev, V., Georgiev V. (eds) Izsledvania v chest na akademik Dimitar Dechev po sluchay 80-godishninata mu. Sofia: Balgarska academia na naukite, 545–555 (in Bulgarian).

Mladenova, Y. 1984. Further Observations on the Monuments of the Danubian Riders. Ratiarensia 2, 61–76.

Nemeti, S. 2015. I relievi dei Cavalieri Danubiani. Spunti per l’interpretazione diacronica delle varianti regionali. In Alexandrescu, C.-G. (ed.) Cult and votive monuments in the Roman Provinces. Proceedings of the 13th International Colloquium on Roman Provincial Art, Bucarest – Alba Iulia – Constanţa, 27th of May – 3rd of June 2013. Cluj-Napoca: Mega Publishing House, 129–138.

Oppermann, M. 1981. Thrakische und Danubische Reitergötter und ihre Beziehungen zu Orientalischen Kulten. In Vermaseren, M. (ed.) Die orientalischen Religionen im Römerreich. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 510–536.

Petkova, K., Stoychev, R. in print. Rescue archaeological excavations at Site No. 10 (between km 35+920 and km 36+980), Izvor locality, village of Aldomirovtsi, municipality Slivnitsa, related to the construction works in the railway section Volujak – Dragoman. Archaeological discoveries and excavations in 2022. Sofia (in Bulgarian with English abstract).

Plemić, B. 2013. Contribution to the Study of the Danubian Horsemen Cult: Iconographic Syncretism of the Danubian Goddess and Celtic Fertility Deities. Archaeologia Bulgarica XVII.2, 59–72.

Plemić, B., Crnobrnja, A. 2022. A new Review of the Topography and Typology of the Danubian Horsemen lead icons in the south-eastern Part of Pannonia inferior. Starinar 72, 155–180.

Schleiermacher, M. 1984. Römische Reitergrabsteine. Die kaiserzeitlichen Reliefs des triumphierenden Reiters. Bonn: Bouvier Verlag Herbert Grundmann.

Stanev, A., Borisova-Katsarova, I. 2020. Archaeological structures from Late Antiquity and Ottoman Period at 27 G. Washington Str., Sofia. Archaeological Discoveries and Excavations in 2019, book 2. Sofia, 763–766 (in Bulgarian with English abstract).

Stancheva, M., Farkov, Y. 1977. Novootkrit ezicheski hram v Serdika. Izvestia na balgarskoto istorichesko druzhestvo 30, 249–277 (in Bulgarian).

Szabó, A. 2017. Domna et Domnus. Contributions to the Cult-History of the ʻDanubian Ridersʼ Religion. Wien: Phoibos Verlag.

Tacheva-Hitova, M. 1982. Istoria na iztochnite kultove v Dolna Mizia i Trakia (5 v. pr. n.e. – 4 v. ot n.e.). Sofia: Nauka i izkustvo (in Bulgarian).

Tacheva, M. 2000. Religiosniat sinkretizam v navecherieto na Milanskia edikt: pametnitsite na “Dunavskite konnitsi”. In Tacheva, M. Vlast i sotsium v rimska Trakia i Mizia. Sofia: Vulkan-4, 238–257 (in Bulgarian).

Tacheva, M. 2004. Teritoriata na Pautalia (2–3 v.): granitsi i patishta. In Tacheva, M. Vlast i sotsium v rimska Trakia i Mizia, kniga 2. Sofia: Universitetsko izdatelstvo “Sv. Kliment Ohridski”, 85–115 (in Bulgarian).

Tóth, I. 2003. Sol Invictus Illyricus I. Problematik des sogenannten donauländischen Reitergottes. In Szabó, A., Tóth, E. (eds) Pannonica provincialia et archaeologia. Studia sollemnia auctorum Hungarorum Evgenio Fitz octogenario dedicata (Libelli archaeologici I). Budapest: Magyar nemzeti múzeum, 467–480.

Toynbee, J. M. C. 1957. Ernest Will, Le relief cultuel gréco-romain: contribution à l’histoire de l’art de l’Empire romain. Paris: E. de Boccard, 1955 (review). Journal of Roman Studies 47, 1/2, 1957, 262–264.

Tsarov, I. 2004. Kultat kam Dunavskite konnitsi v gradskata teritoria na Nikopolis ad Istrum. Epohi 12.1–2, 137–152 (in Bulgarian).

Tudor, D. 1969. Corpus monumentorum religionis equitum Danuvinorum I: The Monuments. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

Tudor, D. 1976. Corpus monumentorum religionis equitum Danuvinorum II: The Analysis and Interpretation of the Monuments. Leiden: E. J. Brill.

Valchev, I. 2015. Extraurban sanctuaries in the Roman province of Thrace (1st – 4th century). Sofia: St Climent Ohridski University Press (in Bulgarian with English abstract).

Velichkov, Zh. 2010. Spasitelni arheologicheski prouchvania na “Amphitheatrum Serdicaense”. Archaeological discoveries and excavations in 2009. Sofia, 353–355 (in Bulgarian).

Velichkov, Zh. 2014. The Antique Theater and the Amphitheater of Serdica. In Vachkova, V., Dimitrov, D. (eds) Serdica Edict (311 AD): Concepts and realization of the idea of religious toleration. Sofia: TANGRA TanNakRa Publishing House, 249–260.

Walde, E. 2005. Im herrlichen Glanze Roms. Die Bildwelt der Römersteine in Österreich. Innsbruck: Institut für Klassische und Provinzialrömische Archäologie, Universität Innsbruck.

Zotović, L. 1998. The cult of Lunar Goddess or the Cult of Danubian Horseman. Starinar 49, 63–75.

Downloads

Published

2023-12-20

How to Cite

Ivanov, M. (2023) “Lead plaques of the so-called Danubian Riders from Serdica and the surrounding territory”, Bulgarian e-Journal of Archaeology | Българско е-Списание за Археология, 13(2), pp. 209–232. doi: 10.57573/be-ja.13.209-232.

Issue

Section

Papers