Review article

Inscriptions as spolia in Vranjic

Nino Švonja

Abstract

The paper treats 23 inscriptions now existing in Vranjic: 19 of them incorporated in house walls, and four kept as artefacts of their own. The inscriptions incorporated in the Benzon house are not included since these have already been published. Also not included are the inscriptions found in the recent submarine rescue archaeological researches.
Only seven inscriptions are complete, others are more or less fragmented. Smaller fragments cannot be reconstructed, wherefore they are providing only limited information. Some future excavations might produce other fragments that could be put together with these and thus produce complete inscriptions. The fragmented inscriptions containing
more text provide more information, but they too could be put together with other fragments to be discovered in the future.
Among the inscriptions recognised are two altars, two sarcophagi, 12 stelae and two altars or honorary pedestals. For five fragments their type cannot be determined. Three inscriptions mention the deceased who performed magistrate or other offices. One mentions a member of the Collegium Veneris. Another inscription mentions a freedman
who was a sevir augustal, that is, a priest in charge of veneration of the imperial cult. The most important office was held by L. Antoninus Firmus. He performed magistrate offices in Salona: he was an aedile and a quattuorvir with judicial authorities. He was also a praefectus fabrum, in charge of performing and supervising construction and other craft
works in the military. Two monuments underwent damnatio memoriae, that is, the inscriptions mentioning the deceased person or persons have been destroyed in order to erase their memory. This was practiced about hated persons. Most of these inscriptions, except for six, have been published. Their origin is unknown. The inscriptions undoubtedly origin from the area of Salona, but the exact location of their discovery is unknown. The inhabitants of Vranjic had their lands in Vranjic, as well as in present day Solin and Dujmovača. Future excavations in Vranjic might produce new inscriptions, but also other fragments of the inscriptions incorporated in the walls as spolia. We are to trust, as rev. Frane Bulić, a
son of Vranjic, once said, in the »lucky pickaxe«!

Keywords

Vranjic; epigraphy; spolium; stele; sarcophagus; altar; titulus; ossuary

Hrčak ID:

215819

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/215819

Publication date:

30.10.2018.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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