Original scientific paper

Navisalvia, The Saviour of Cybele’s Ship

Inga VILOGORAC BRČIĆ orcid.org/0000-0001-9197-5003 ; University of Zagreb Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Ivana Lučića 3 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Greek and Roman literary sources inform us about the tradition of the transfer of Cybele’s cult from Pergamon to
Rome in 204 BC: the protagonist was Claudia Quinta who helped, by miracle, for Cybele’s sacra to arrive in Rome
safely. This was the reason for the Romans to worship divinized Claudia Quinta as goddess Navisalvia (The Saviour
of the Ship) besides Cybele. Three Roman altars, with dedications to the Great Mother and to Navisalvia, are evidence. One
of them is decorated with the relief of Claudia’s miracle. The story about Claudia Quinta was the model for a series of legends
about Christian saints, such as the one of the transfer of St Euphemia’s relics to Rovinj. It also inspired numerous artists from
the Middle ages to 18th century.

Keywords

Great Mother Cybele; Claudia Quinta; Navisalvia; altar; dedication; St Euphemia

Hrčak ID:

104304

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/104304

Publication date:

1.8.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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