A lead amulet and bronze bells from a Thracian horseman sanctuary near Tryavna
In: Arheologiâ, Jg. 49 (2008), Heft 1-4, S. 110-117
Online
academicJournal
- print; 8; 1 p
Zugriff:
The village of Chernovrah is located 7 kilometers from the town of Tryavna. A sanctuary of the Thracian horseman was discovered on the land of the village, in Elenova mogila locality. Big fragments of marble tablets representing the deity testify to that fact. The sanctuary existed over a long period of time, from the reign of Alexander of Macedon until the fourth century AD (of course, with some periods of decline). The ritual facility was used most intensively during the Roman period, in the time of the Antonines and the Severi. A lead plate-amulet (rolled up in the shape of a tubule) with Greek letters on both sides was found in a layer pertaining to the above period. Its dimensions are 5 x 2.2 cm, and its thickness is 0.2 cm. Regrettably, a sensible text cannot be deciphered. These are probably 'magical formulae' known only to their wizard author, the amulet owner, and the deity worshipped. In view of the letter analysis, we can assume an earlier dating of this amulet. Numerous inscriptions from the Hellenistic period feature letters that are written out similarly to those of the discussed find. The parallels of epigraphic sources from the second century AD are fewer in number. More than 300 miniature bronze bells originate from the sanctuary. Presumably, the bells had a dual purpose. On the one hand, the sound served as a magic aimed at helping the sick (especially children) and curing them. The sounds produced were supposed to reach the deity, to whom they were addressed, and who, it was hoped, would meet the expectations for help. On the other hand, the sound would adversely influence and chase the evil forces away. Small bells have been found in different burial and cult centers on the northern and eastern coasts of the Black Sea, and in the Eastern Mediterranean as well. Questions arise as to how the rural Thracian population from the area of the sanctuary was privy to the magic and rituals, and where these masterly manufactured bells were bought from? Northwest from Tryavna, at about 20 km as the crow flies, today's village of Gostilitsa, Dryanovo municipality, is located. In the Roman period, the big commodity market (emporium) Discoduraterae was there, attracting lots of people from Lower Moesia and Thrace. A wide variety of goods were traded by both payments in kind and money. The Roman town of Nicopolis ad Istrum (near Nikyup, Veliko Tarnovo region) occupied an area north of Discoduraterae. Six important roads passed near the town. The population was diverse: Greeks from Asia Minor, Roman citizens, Thracians, and members of other ethnic groups. It was not a long way to cross the Balkan range' crest either and visit the big Thracian center of Augusta Traiana (Stara Zagora). Initially the lands around Tryavna belonged to the town territory of Augusta Traiana. The population there was also quite diverse and heterogeneous. It was only during the reign of Emperor Aurelian that the lands north of the mountains came under the control of Nicopolis ad Istrum.
Titel: |
A lead amulet and bronze bells from a Thracian horseman sanctuary near Tryavna
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Autor/in / Beteiligte Person: | IVANOV, Rumen |
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Zeitschrift: | Arheologiâ, Jg. 49 (2008), Heft 1-4, S. 110-117 |
Veröffentlichung: | Sofiâ: Izdatel'stvo na Blgarska akademiâ na naukite, 2008 |
Medientyp: | academicJournal |
Umfang: | print; 8; 1 p |
ISSN: | 0324-1203 (print) |
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