Preliminary communication
https://doi.org/10.33254/aia.21.1.5
Legumes in Roman funerary customs: symbolism and archaeological traces
Ivana Ožanić Roguljić
orcid.org/0000-0002-0140-8011
; Institute of Archaeology, Zagreb, Croatia
*
Renata Šoštarić
orcid.org/0009-0000-9978-9766
; Division of Botany, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Legumes played a multifaceted role in the Roman world – serving as a dietary staple, a vital agricultural component, and a potent symbol of life, death, and renewal. Their soil-enriching properties and high nutritional value made them a key resource in daily life, while their regenerative nature contributed to their symbolic role in funerary practices. Of particular signifi cance was the fava bean (Vicia faba), which the Romans associated with the souls of the deceased, the underworld, and the cycle of rebirth. During festivals such as the Lemuria and Parentalia, the fava bean fulfilled a vital ritual function in appeasing ancestral spirits. Archaeobotanical remains from Ilok, Ščitarjevo, Šepkovčica, Osijek, and Vinkovci confirm the presence of legumes in Roman graves, particularly during the earlier phases when cremation was the predominant rite. Mineralized and carbonized seeds of lentils, peas, fava beans, and vetches suggest intentional food offerings or the remnants of funerary banquets. In later inhumation burials, their role can no longer be clearly substantiated. Variations between sites reflect regional traditions and differing interpretations of Roman rituals. Although the finds are scarce, they demonstrate how everyday foodstuffs could be transformed into powerful symbols linking the living and the dead, off ering valuable insights into the social and religious beliefs of the Roman era.
Keywords
Roman province of Pannonia; Roman festivals; funerary ritual; funerary banquet; legumes; archaeobotany
Hrčak ID:
342669
URI
Publication date:
30.12.2025.
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