Histria antiqua, Vol. 21 No. 21, 2012.
Izvorni znanstveni članak
Ancient Maritime Sanctuaries: promunturium Diomedis
Lucijana ŠEŠELJ
; Sveučilište u Zadru, Odjel za povijest Obala kralja P. Krešimira IV, 2 23000 Zadar, Hrvatska
Sažetak
Cape Ploča called promunturium Diomedis by Pliny the Elder (Nat. hist. 3.141) is situated on the peninsula of the
same name south of Rogoznica in Šibenik. In ancient geography, this cape dedicated to the Greek hero Diomedes,
is situated on Hyllean peninsula (paeninsula Hyllis), which was of significance to mariners and they used it as coastal
landmark. This part of the eastern Adriatic coast is opened to the sea and exposed to strong southern winds from
the sea and to the hard bora from the mainland. Due to sudden wind changes and strong currents around the cape
it always had a bad reputation among the sailors.
Archaeological excavations at cape Ploča have revealed the remains of a sanctuary from the Hellenistic period.
The remains of the walls which enclose temenos have been found; a sacred space where ritual activity was conducted
had approximately rectangular surface of 10 x 4 m. On this spot the vast majority of archaeological remains
were found: numerous pottery sherds, coins, jewellery fragments etc. These objects were left in the sanctuary as
votive gifts from the end of the 4th century B.C. until the beginning of the 1st century A.D. Most of the ceramic
pottery are drinking vessels which suggest that the main part of the ritual was libation. A libation is a very important
Greek ritual which symbolises leaving and hope in happy returning, and had special meaning to the sailors.
The ceremony also consisted of praying and votive dedications. After a successful journey sailors left gifts, personal
objects, jewellery, parts of the ships, clothes, coins etc. The most important piece of evidence about the nature of this
site are graffiti. These are dedicatory inscriptions to Diomedes, incised onto the surface of the pots: to Diomedes/
Diom»d(e)i or Diom»d(e)i dîron/gift to Diomedes. The visitors of the sanctuary were sailors, the crew of the ship
as suggested by graffiti sunnaàtai.
Why was the sanctuary dedicated to Diomedes? Literary sources suggest that this god was connected to winds,
and particularly storm winds at the sea and has the ability to calm them down. Taking into account the perception
ancient people had of the Adriatic as a wild and very dangerous sea especially concerning the winds, the popularity
of cult of Diomedes among ancient sailors in Adriatic is completely understandable.
Ključne riječi
Hrčak ID:
102445
URI
Datum izdavanja:
1.8.2012.
Posjeta: 2.692 *