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Journal of the Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, Vol. 46 No. 1, 2014.

Original scientific paper

The Nakovana zodiac

Stašo Forenbaher orcid id orcid.org/0000-0002-9119-4183 ; Institut za antropologiju, Zagreb
Alexander Jones ; Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University

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Abstract

In 2000, during archaeological excavations in Nakovana Cave on the peninsula of Pelješac, small fragments of ivory with engraved decoration were found. Once assembled, it was established that they belonged to several plaques bearing zodiac symbols. They are most probably parts of an astrologer’s board – a very rare archaeological find. The fragments were collected during careful recovery of a dense cluster of shards of fine Hellenistic vessels left in the cave as offerings. This is the oldest known astrologer’s board to date, made around 100 BC, soon after the emergence of Greek horoscopic astrology. Its presence within territory which was controlled by the indigenous Illyrian community testifies to the communication and cultural links within the Mediterranean basin in the 1st c. BC.

Keywords

zodiac; astrology; astrologer’s board; ivory; Hellenistic period; Adriatic; Nakovana

Hrčak ID:

117875

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/117875

Publication date:

18.3.2014.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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