Histria antiqua, Vol. 21 No. 21, 2012.
Original scientific paper
Ancient Cults as Patrons of Seafaring and Seafarers in Istria
Vesna GIRARDI JURKIĆ
Abstract
In this paper, the author underlines that epigraphic material and monuments mentioning ancient cults as patrons of
seafaring and seafarers in Istria – which would correspond to numerous coastal settlements and ports, villas and landing
places – are scarce. It is assumed that the supreme Roman sea deity Neptune was worshipped in the temple on the
capitolium in Poreč, and in the residential maritime villa complex on the Brijuni Islands (the triad: Mars, Neptune, Venus).
Indirect evidence of the worship of a coastal town’s patrons are depictions in relief of a group of oriental, Greek and Roman
deities in the Pula forum (Jupiter Ammon, Achelous, Triton, the Nereids, Medusa). They belong to the familiar repertoire
of cult decoration of maritime towns on the Adriatic coast (Salona, Zadar, Trieste, Aquileia). Interestingly, relief depictions
of Achelous and the Nereids can also be found in the small and large Roman theatres in Pula. A sculpture representing one
of the Dioscuri, the mortal Castor with a horse, has also been found in Pula. Regardless of the absence of small votive bronze
figurines from home shrines, two bronze figurines of Isis Fortuna with a rudder, discovered in Savudrija and Loron, testify to
the veneration of this cult in Roman villas on the western coast of Istria. Depiction of the sea god Glaucus on a gem found
in the necropolis of Burla near Medulin fits into the repertoire of cult protection of fishermen and seafaring. The paper also
contains a catalogue of cult monuments.
Keywords
Istria; patrons of seafaring; Neptune; Jupiter Ammon; Achelous; Triton; the Nereids; Medusa; Glaucus
Hrčak ID:
101883
URI
Publication date:
1.8.2012.
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