Ante Rendi-Mioevi - Rivers and river deities in...

(293-305) Histria Antiqua, 21/2012

Ante RENDI-MIOEVI

RIVERS AND RIVER DEITIES IN ROMAN PERIOD

IN THE CROATIAN PART OF PANNONNIA
UDK 903/904:656.62>:291.212>(398 Panonija)00/02 Ante Rendi-Mioevi, prof.
Original scientific paper Poljika ul. 29a
Received: 3.07.2012. 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Approved: 23.08.2012. e-mail: rendicmiocevic@xnet.hr

T he purpose of this contribution is to point out several remarks on river navigation, as well as on worship of river
deities, in the Croatian part of the Roman province of Pannonia. The rivers were at the Roman period the most im-
portant were the largest European rivers, such as the Rhine and the Danube, both connecting the northern with the
southern and the western with the eastern regions of the continent. Besides the Danube (Danuvius, Danubius), the border
river of the Empire, the most important rivers for traffic, economy, trade, and often also for strategic and military matters of
Croatian part of Pannonia were the Drava (Dravus) and the Sava (Savus), together with, due to specific circumstances, the
Kupa (Colapis), as well as the Bosut (Bathinus) and some others. This is recognized in literary sources and in a vast number
of archaeological finds. On their banks were built important urban centres, together with accompanying infrastructure,
harbours, bridges, etc. In this context, an inscription on a brick from Siscia is suggestive, testifying the fact that there were
two harbours in Siscia, on both banks of the Kupa river. The most important urban centres were the colonies of Siscia (Sisak),
Mursa (Osijek) and Cibalae (Vinkovci). At the same time, Siscia was connected with Sirmium (Srijemska Mitrovica) by
the Sava river, and the Pannonian fleet (Classis Pannonica) patrolled upon it (it received the honorary title Flavia during
Vespasians reign).

Key-words: river navigation, Croatian part of the Roman province of Pannonia, Danube, Drava, Sava, Kupa,
Bosut, deities

The deities of these rivers are also discussed in this ube that flows away (Danuvio defluenti) was found
paper, more precisely, epigraphic and iconographical in Aquincum, while an altar dedicated to Jupiter and
evidence of their cult. Thus the well-known monumen- Danube (I. O. M et Danuvio) was found at Augsburg
tal altar with a dedication to the Danube and the Drava (Augusta Vindelicum). It seems that a river deity, most
(Danuvio et Dravo), probably from the reign of Elaga- probably the personification of the Drava (Dravus), is
balus, has been discussed among other monuments: also depicted on the fragmentary figural composition
originally it stood near the confluence of the Drava and from Mursa, now in the Archaeological Museum in
the Danube and thus could have been seen by the ship Zagreb: beneath a semi-nude standing female figure
crews navigating the area. It seems that several altars (Tyche, personification of Mursa ?), a bearded long-
kept by the Regional museum in Ptuj were also dedi- haired small figure is depicted swimming, probably a
cated to these same deities. An altar dedicated to Dan- personification of the Drava river.

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An altar dedicated to the deity of the river Sava and the Sava. It is only natural that these centres were
(Savo Augusto) was found at itarjevo (Andautonia). furnished with harbours, bridges, and other river in-
The cult of Savus is evidenced on several monuments, frastructure required for navigation. These rivers were
all of them from the upper course of the river, from the thus important for traffic and, consequently, also for
surroundings of Emona, as well as from Andautonia the economy and trade. Some other functions are also
and Siscia. Several altars dedicated to a pair of deities, noticeable; for example, the verification of legitimacy
Savus and Adsalluta (a female deity of the Celtic Tau- of the newborn children and the strengthening of their
risci), were also found along the upper course of the resistance to cold water. It was also believed that they
river. The name of the river deity Savus is also found on made the deceaseds last voyage easier, in other words,
a lead tablet inscribed on both sides found in the Kupa that the rivers and other watercourses could lead to
at Sisak: it is a curse (defixio) demanding a punishment the Afterlife.1 Furthermore, the rivers were often im-
(drowning) of the individual that was the object of the portant in military context. On the other hand, other
curse. aspects of living associated with rivers were no less
Personified figures of river deities, most notably the important, such as manifestations of cult, especially
Sava and the Kupa, also appear on coins: thus two an- prominent in the worship of autochthonous river dei-
toniniani of the emperor Probus from a hoard found ties,2 as testified by abundant epigraphic evidence and,
at imanovci in Syrmia (now in the Archaeological in smaller measure, the preserved figural monuments.
Museum in Zagreb) bear an inscription Siscia Probi The situation was similar with regards to other major
Aug(usti) XXIQ, with a depiction of a seated female watercourses; thus Virgil and Ovid mention Rhenus bi-
figure beneath which are represented two reclining cornis, the deity of the Rhine, represented with tauro-
*
I wish to express my gratitude to the fol- bearded male figures, river deities, obviously personifi- morphic elements and revealing the iconography char-
lowing individuals and institutions for their cations of the Sava and the Kupa. A similar motif ap- acteristic for Achelous.3
assistance in preparing this article: Igor
Krajcar, Tomislav Bili, Branka Migotti, pears on the antoniniani of the emperor Gallienus with Besides the literary sources suggesting the impor-
Slavica Filipovi, The Museum of Slavonia an inscription Siscia Aug(usti): the reclining figure of a tance of the already mentioned streams, especially for
Osijek, The Museum of Meimurje,
akovec. bearded male is characteristic for the depictions of river traffic and military movements,4 their importance is
1
Simn & Rod de Llanza 2008, 193. deities, such as Nile, Tiber, etc. testified by the formation of the Pannonian fleet.5 Its
2
On river deities in a wider religious Finally, a possible example of a cult of river deities, importance was enhanced with the recognition of the
context see Potrebica 2003, 105-106 (s.v.
Boanstva rijeka). in this case the local river Bosut (Bathinus), is the statue need for the creation of a network that would mutually
3
Simn & Rod de Llanza 2008, 193. of Neptune from Vinkovci (Cibalae), now in the Ar- interconnect the harbours on the Sava with its most im-
4
The Sava was intended to be an impor-
tant communication link, both in civilian chaeological Museum in Zagreb.* portant urban centres. In the first place this applies to
and military sense, with reference to the River navigation, not unlike marine navigation or the Pannonian town of Siscia and the Lower Pannonian
attempt to reach the bank of Danube and
further east, towards Dacia, which was navigation on lakes, was already in prehistory of vital Sirmium, and it was especially manifested during Vespa-
Augustus priority, that is, one of the most importance for the life of local communities. This natu- sains reign, when the fleet was granted with the honor-
important goals of Roman state policy in
general (cfr. Res Gestae Divi Augusti, 30, rally also applies to the Roman period, when the main ary title of Flavia (Classis Flavia Pannonica).6 This fact
Pannoniorum gentes..,.imperio populi inland arteries were represented by the Rhine and the was confirmed by the find of a tile-stamp at trbinci
Romani subieci, protulique fines Illyrici ad
ripam fluminis Danui (Danuvii); also cfr. Danube. Both served as the frontiers of the Empire, but (Roman Certissia) near akovo in Slavonia.7 Siscia was
Zaninovi 1986, 63 ff. also as links between various regions of Europe. Several also connected to Sirmium by a road following the river
5
The Flavian period is an age of prosperity
in Siscia. The process of urbanization was lesser streams were not far behind them in importance, course.8 Numerous archaeological finds were recovered
intensified in Vespasians reign, together some of them being important at a regional level. In in riverbeds, although these are not necessarily con-
with the importance of the navigation on
the Sava, while the fleet received an honor- the Croatian part of the province of Pannonia, besides nected to navigation and traffic. They appear in various
ary name Classis Flavia Pannonica (cfr. the already mentioned Danube River, partly passing contexts and are not always of Roman origin.9 At least
Loli 2003, 134).
6
For Octavians and Tiberius use of ships through Croatia, the most important streams, due to some of those belonged to ships inventories or cargoes
in military operations, and especially on their length, were its main tributaries, the Sava (Savus) transported on boats. A good example is provided by
the activities of the Pannonian fleet on
the Sava and the honorary title it received and the Drava (Dravus), but also some tributaries of the remains of a shipwreck discovered during the con-
in Vespasians reign (Classis Flavia Pan- the former, especially the Kupa (Colapis). Important struction of the foundation for a railway bridge over the
nonica) cfr. Zaninovi 1993.
7
CLFP (Classis Flavia Pannonica), cfr.
fortification facilities and urban centres were erected Drava at Osijek in 1882, which yielded several vessels,
Migotti 1998, 16, no. 11. along the courses of those rivers, including two Roman together with gold, silver and bronze coinage, today
8
Bojanovski 1984, 145 ff; Zaninovi colonies, Mursa (modern-day Osijek) on the Drava and unfortunately lost, with the exception of two coins of
1993, 57.
9
Potrebica 2003, 105. Siscia (modern Sisak) at the confluence of the Kupa Antoninus that arrived to the then National Museum in

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Zagreb,10 clearly suggesting the existence of river navi- Fig. 1. Altar of Cautes (relief and
inscription), The Museum of
gation and transfer of cargo.11 Underwater research of Meimurje, akovec
the remains of a Roman bridge over the Drava in Osijek
have been conducted for some time now, and some of
the recent finds, in the form of figural ornaments, most
probably mythological in nature, are perhaps connect-
ed to the river deities. Concerning the finds from the
Drava, we could also notice the two recently published
marble altars with inscriptions and figural representa-
tions of the two torchbearers of Mithras, Cautes (Fig. 1)
and Cautopates (Fig. 2) that were not discovered in the
riverbed itself but in a nearby artificial lake south-east
of akovec in the Meimurje region. It is possible to
suggest that they were part of a cargo transported by the
Drava towards some important urban centre, perhaps
even Mursa. The transport was obviously conducted by
the river that, judging by a number of indications, has
changed its course in this part of the Meimurje over Fig. 2. Altar of Cautopates (relief
and inscription), The Museum of
time. Thus, there are good reasons for believing that the Meimurje, akovec
cargo ended up in the river or somewhere in its vicinity
under some unknown circumstances, most probably at
the exact location of the find of these altars.12 Numerous
finds from different periods were also found in the Sava
River, but the context of these finds is not always con-
nected to navigation, that is, presumed incidents during 10
Pinterovi 1978, 116; Ljubi 1883, 94.
the sail. But the most numerous finds of this type come 11
Pinterovi 1978, 116.
from the Kupa River: they were mostly discovered dur- 12
Rendi-Mioevi 2011, 333.
ing dredging, especially at Siscia, near the various fa- 13
ari 1986., 87.
14
The navigation on the Sava and its
cilities located on the riverbank. The bronze fragments importance for Segestica, i.e. Siscia, is de-
found in the Kupa River near Kobili Pokupski, not far scribed by literary sources. Pliny the Elder is
especially precise in this wise (NH, 3, 148);
from Karlovac, especially parts of carved monumen- he emphasizes that the Kupa pours into
tal bronze sculptures out of 89 fragments retrieved the Sava near Siscia (...Colapis in Sauam
influens iuxta Sisciam...). According to him
in 1963 and deposited in the Karlovac City Museum, by phrases... in hoc navali..., and... in alio navali... (Fig. 4). Siscia would be located on the left bank
the most attractive are the fragments of a monumental This information, even if it does not refer to two dif- of the Kupa, with Segestica on the right
(Pogorelec ?), on an island created by the
statue of Apollo, fragments of a head, body, feet, dra- ferent harbours, is a first-rate testimony for the impor- double river bed (... gemino alveo insulam
pery etc., as well as inscription bearing several names tance of harbours, that is, to the stationing of ships in ibi efficit quae Segestica appellatur).
On Plinys remarks cfr. Vrbanovi 1981,
was part of a much larger cargo that was gradually this important Pannonian town.14 The inscription can 187; Buzov 2003, 178 ff. On different
over the years retrieved during sand dredging from the also suggest the positions of both supposed harbours.15 aspects of the importance of the Sava cfr.
also Bojanovski 1993, 63 ff (s.v. III. The
river bed in order to be sold as a raw material for fur- The rivers were often associated to different divini- Savas importance for traffic, economy and
ther processing. This was a bronze cargo being trans- ties. Their names thus often appear on altars, occasional- defence).
15
CIL III, 11382; ael1974, 704;
ported by the Kupa, most probably to Siscia.13 Beside ly together with other deities. Different interpretations Matijai 1986, 206; Radman Livaja 2007,
shipwreck cargoes, remains of bridges etc., harbour fa- of their true identity are also numerous.16 Numerous 167, footnote 37 (the excavations of 1985
confirmed the existence of a harbour at
cilities were also found in some centres, together with authors, especially of late, have mentioned or discussed the site Kovnica (the Mint) on the right
inscriptions mentioning the existence of harbours. An the river deities or the monuments dedicated to them, bank of the Kupa, while the other harbour
was most probably situated on the left
inscribed brick from Siscia kept in the Archaeological mostly in the form of interpretation of epigraphic testi- bank, to the south of the city wall, nearer
Museum in Zagreb is of special importance in this con- monies to the cults of the autochthonous river deities: to its confluence with the Sava). On river
harbours at Siscia cfr. also: ael 1974, 725;
text, as it contains information on the possible existence Danuvius, Dravus and Savus. A very well-known lime- Buzov 2003, 179.
of two harbours of Siscia operating on opposite banks stone altar dedicated to Danuvius and Dravus, kept in 16
In this context, for example, several opin-
ions were expressed on the referent of the
of the Kupa River (Fig. 3) and this fact is emphasized the Museum of Slavonia in Osijek, is among the most god Iuvavus (cfr. Hainzmann 2010, 23 ff).

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Fig. 4. Brick from Sisak with an

inscription mentioning Siscias two
harbours (drawing and transcrip-
tion), The Archaeological Museum
in Zagreb

Fig. 3. Brick from Sisak with an tate, it was, it seems, originally set up on an elevated site
inscription mentioning two Siscia
s harbours, The Archaeological in Aljma near to the confluence of the Drava and Dan-
Museum in Zagreb ube, in the position called the Drava triangle, where,
most probably, a military outpost once stood.19 The
altar was erected by a legate whose name is, unfortu-
nately, not preserved. The inscription originally con-
sisted of 12 or 13 lines, but only the first two, inscribed
in capital letters (Danuvio et Dravo), are well preserved
(Fig. 6). Several small letters are preserved at places in
the lower section of the inscription (P and R, double P
(?), a C (?) in the next line, as well as a V) (Fig. 7). How-
ever, they do not fit into the proposed restoration of
the most important part of the inscription. On the left
lateral side of the altar a cultic jug is displayed (urceus);
a broken-off representation of a patera is poorly visible
on the opposite right-hand side of the monument. The
same applies to the upper and lower moulding on the
front and the right-hand side of the altar. These sections
were broken-off intentionally, since the monument was
reused for a certain period. According to the proposed
textual restoration - most of the text was intentionally
erased already in the Roman period, including both the
17
CIL III 10263; Brunmid 1900, 25;
Pinterovi 1958, 23, 50; idem 1960, 32-34;
interesting monuments of this type (Fig. 5).17 It is rea- emperors and the legates name (damnatio memoriae) -
idem 1967, 39; idem 1978, 69-70, Pl. sonable to presume that it was erected for ship crews: it seems that the text went as follows:
XIV/1,2; Dautova-Ruevljan 1983,76,
Pl. 13/1.
judging by its dimensions height: 200 cm, width: 83
18
Pinterovi 1978, 70; Dautova-Ruevljan cm, depth: 58 cm it is possible to presume that it was Danuvio / et Dravo / [pro sa]lut(e) et in[columit]
1983, 76. set up in order to be seen by the crews that navigated a[te ? / imp(eratoris) Ca]es(aris) M. Aur(elii) [An-
19
CIL III 10263; Pinterovi 1978, 69-70,
Pl. XIV/1,2; Dautova-Ruevljan 1983, through this area.18 Although it was transferred to the tonini / div]i [Antonini / div]i [Ant]onini [Magni f]
76, Pl. 13/1. Osijek Museum from the park of the nearby Tenja es- il(ii)..... [leg(atus) Aug(usti)] pr(o) pr(aetore)...

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Ante Rendi-Mioevi - Rivers and river deities in... (293-305) Histria Antiqua, 21/2012

D. Pinterovi sees a certain symbolical meaning in Fig. 5. Altar consecrated to the gods
of the Danube and Drava (Danuvio
the erection of the altar dedicated to the river deities, et Dravo), The Museum of Slavonia
presumably during Elagabalus reign, taking into ac- Osijek
count that the site where the monument was set up
was in a border area and at the confluence of two large
rivers. Accordingly, she analyses its meaning in the con-
text of contemporary threats and military movements
in this area.
When one speaks of altars dedicated to the divinities
Dravus and Danuvius (Danubius), it is quite interesting
to bring to mind some altars preserved at the County
Museum (Pokrajinski muzej) in Ptuj. On the preserved
marble fragment of one of them the initial letters Da...
can be seen, suggesting that this could refer to the dedi-
cation to the already mentioned pair of river divini-
ties.20 Two other altars from the same museum,made of
limestone instead, were discovered in 1903 or 1904 at
nearby Studenica and Zgornji Breg, respectively, per-
haps also containing dedications to Dravus. On the first
altar there is an inscription in 12 lines on its front and
the dedication to Dravus (Dravo Augusto Sacrum) is ab-
solutely certain,21 whereas the other altar, very similar
to the first one, bore an inscription in nine lines: its sur-
face however is severely damaged, rendering the dedi-
cation hardly discernible. Judging from the last letter in
Fig. 6. Altar consecrated to Danube
and Drava (Danuvio et Dravo)
detail of the inscription

20
Hoffiller - Saria 1938, 122-123, no. 266.
21
Abrami 1925, 58; Hoffiller - Saria
1938, 123, no. 267; Jevremov 1988, 77-78,
no. 62.

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Fig. 7. Altar consecrated to Danube

and Drava (Danuvio et Dravo)
the traces of the lower part of the
inscription

Fig. 8. Detail of the stone monu- an altar from Augsburg (Augusta Vindelicum) preserved
ment representing the male figure
personifying the Drava river (from in a church at Risstissen.24
Osijek), The Archaeological Mu- While speaking about Dravus, it is worth to draw at-
seum in Zagreb tention to the fragment of the bottom part of a marble
figural monument from Osijek (Mursa), preserved at
the Zagreb Archaeological Museum (Fig. 8). Its exact
provenance remains obscure, but D. Pinterovi tried
to link it to the reconstruction of the bridge on the
Drava under Caracalla before her this had also been
done by B. Saria considering that the female divinity
could be the personification of the city, the Mursan
Tyche. She is depicted as semi-nude and, according to
the previous interpretation, stands above a figure of
the epichoric river god Dravus. The female figure, as
the central figure in the composition, is with her right
foot treading upon the uplifted head of a bearded (?),
long-haired small human figure, who, as it seems, is
swimming in the water, and trying to embrace with
his right arm an unidentified bulge, probably the river
bank.25 The figure of this person could therefore be re-
ferring to the local river god Dravus. Apart from the
figural depictions of river gods on coins, this could be
the first line an O, there is a reason to suppose that the only preserved figural depiction of a river god in
22
Hoffiller - Saria 1938, 123-124, no. 268. the altar was dedicated to the same river god (perhaps
23
CIL III/1 3473. this Pannonian region.26
24
CIL III, 5863. the final letter of the word Dravo is in question?).22 The In a backwater of the river Sava, more precisely in
25
Pinterovi 1958, 49-50; idem 1978, 68;
Dautova Ruevljan 1983, 121.
dedication to the other river god Danuvius (Danuvio de- the Savie oxbow near itarjevo (Andautonia), not
26
Pinterovi 1978, 68-69; idem 1958, fluenti, Danuvius which flows away) has been found far from the modern-day Zagreb, an altar with an
49-51. on an altar from Aquincum,23 while the dedication to Ju- inscription made of local sandstone and bearing the
27
The altar is presently at the Archaeologi-
cal Museum in Zagreb. piter and Danuvius (I. O. M. et. Danuvio) can be read on dedication to the local river god Savus was found in

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Fig. 9. Altar consecrated to the

river god Savus, from itarjevo
(Andautonia), The Archaeological
Museum in Zagreb

Fig. 10. Defixio from the Kupa at

Sisak mentioning the river god
Savus, The Archaeological Museum
in Zagreb

1870 (Fig. 9).27 According to the recently made in- ficer, as some of earlier authors considered him to be.28
spection the inscription reads as follows: It is interesting that the cult of Savus has been recorded
only along the upper flow of the river and that down-
Savo Aug(usto) stream Siscia there are no preserved proofs of its cult.
Sac(rum) It is certain that the Savus altar from Andautonia is
M(arcus). Iuen[ti]u[s] connected with navigation, i.e. with transport of goods
[Pr]imigeniu[s] and trading along this river.29 The first publication of
[e]t. [s]o[ci]i. v(otum). s(olverunt). l(ibentes). m(erito) this inscription in CIL was followed by various other
publications,30whereas some broader references to
This monument, probably from the 2nd century it have been published recently.31 In this connection,
A.D., has frequently been the object of interest of ex- the most detailed aspects of the Savus cult have been 28
Knezovi 2010, 189.
29
Ibidem.
perts. Most of them agreed that the dedicator was of analysed by M. ael Kos in her book on pre-Roman 30
CIL III 4009; Brunmid 1904-1911,
North Italian descent, and the actual opinion is that divinities in the Eastern Alpine and Adriatic regions, 140-141, no. 244; Degmedi 1957, 103.
Rendi-Mioevi 1994, 131-132, no. 276.
he was a merchant (as were the socii also mentioned in the chapter on the gods altars, as well as on altars 31
Knezovi 2010, 188-193 (s.v. 1. The wor-
in the inscription) and not a fisherman or custom of- commemorating both Savus and the local female divin- ship of the deity Savus).

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ity Adsalluta, linked to the Celtic Taurisci.32 Along the the abovementioned text has been restored by F. M.
same lines, I. Knezovi discussed the Savus altar from Simn and I. Rod de Llanza, as follows:
itarjevo, as well as another important Andautonian
monument, the inscription of Lucius Funisulanus Vetto- Data depr{e}<i>menti
nianus, i.e. the relief with the depiction of the goddess Ma(n)data data istos
Nemesis on the rear side of the same marble slab.33 M. Savo <ut>cura(m) aga(t)...42
ael Kos concluded that the cults of river gods in the
area of her discussion could be traced as early as the The approximate translation of this fragment reads:
Late Bronze Age, as well as during the Iron Age and in ...that they are delivered to Savus who drowns.43 These
Roman times, and she particularly points out that all words illustrate the importance of the local river divin-
major rivers had their own cults. She further noted that ity, but in a specific aspect of its cult.
in Pannonia male river gods were worshiped, empha- Particularly interesting in the given iconographic
sising the importance of navigation on the Sava and its context are some coin types referring to Siscia, as well
tributary Ljubljanica, mentioned by Strabo.34 ael Kos as some imperial coins associative of the river Danube
also mentioned the three major centres of the cult of Sa- (Danuvius, Danubius), the most conspicuous hydron-
vus: in Slovenia this was the Emona area, and in Croatia imic phenomenon of the region.44 On the Gallienus
the towns of Andautonia and Siscia.35 Her comparisons coin bearing the legend Siscia Aug(usti), the town was
of the cult of Savus and Adsalluta with the cult of Vid- personified in the guise of a seated female deity with
asus et Thana, testified by a series of altars at Topusko, an uplifted arm and a tower-crown on her head: under
is also interesting. In the context of the actual topic her feet is s swimming male figure, very probably a per-
the most important is her conclusion that Vidasus and sonification of the Sava (Savus), although a personifica-
Thana were local gods, most probably connected with tion of the Kupa (Colapis) cannot be excluded either,
water.36According to her evidence there are only three given its huge importance in the life of the town.45 Short
monuments dedicated to Savus. One of them is from mentions or longer thematic contributions have been
Vernek in Slovenia, the second one is the previously written by many scholars, dealing with the reverses of
32
ael Kos 1999, 100; Knezovi 2010, 188 mentioned altar from itarjevo (Andautonia), and the the antoniniani struck in Siscia under emperor Probus
ff; ael Kos 1998, 19. third one is the inscription on a lead curse tablet from (276-282), inscribed Siscia Probi Aug(usti) XXIQ, fea-
33
Knezovi 2010, 193 ff. turing also depictions of river gods. Two specimens
34
ael Kos 1999, 23. Sisak (Siscia). All in all, five altars were dedicated to Sa-
35
Idem 1999, 24. vus and Adsalluta and four to Adsalluta, the latter all of such bronze coins are preserved in the Zagreb Ar-
36
Idem 1999, 24-25.
found in Slovenia.37 chaeological Museum Numismatic Collection and
37
Idem 1999, 93 i d.; cfr. ael Kos 1994.
38
Brunmid 1915-1919. The name of the river god Savus further appears, in were found in Syrmia (Fig. 11): both are from the well-
39
Hoffiller Saria 1938, 254, no.557;
a different context, on a lead tablet (tabella defixionum, known imanovci (near Vukovar) hoard, which con-
Buzov 2003, 191; Simn & Rod de Llanza sisted of coins of several emperors (Gallienus, Tacitus,
2008, 167-198. defixio) containing a curse in a two-sided inscription,
40
Numerous finds of defixiones come from
first published by J. Brunmid (Fig. 10).38 This defixio Florianus, Carus, Numerianus, Carinus etc.).46 Most of
Bath, while some such tablets have recently the authors consider the female figure accompanied by
been found at Fontana di Anna Perenna in dates to the early 2nd century A.D. and seems to have two male figures on the coin reverse as personifications
Rome (cfr. Simn & Rod de Llanza 2008,
173 i 191). been thrown into the Kupa in the area of Siscia, where of the town of Siscia and its two rivers, the Sava (Savus)
41
Brunmid 1915-1919, 176 ff.; Hofiller it was found during the dredging in 1913.39 Presuma- and the Kupa (Colapis): figures of these two river divini-
Saria 1938, 254-257, no. 557; ael Kos
1999, 100-101. bly, water was the place where such tablets containing ties are placed left and right of an enthroned woman,
42
Idem 2008, 171. a curse were usually deposited.40 This tablet has been the personification of Siscia.47 Curiously, a similar motif
43
ael Kos 1999, 101.
44
Rendi-Mioevi 1990, 83. discussed from various aspects by many authors,41 also appears on some antoniniani of Gallienus. They, on
45
Ibidem. A possibility has been mentioned
that the depiction of a jar with water
and most recently it was thoroughly analysed in 2008 the other hand, bear the inscription Siscia Aug(usti), as
pouring out of it in gentle waves might be by F. M. Simn and I. Rod de Llanza in the periodi- well as the female figure, personification of Siscia: un-
an allusion to another of the areas rivers,
given that Siscia was surrounded by three cal of the Zagreb Archaeological Museum. The text derneath her feet a river god is swimming, holding an
rivers: the Sava, Kupa and Odra.) containing the curse was written in the vulgate Latin amphora with water flowing out of it. A similar motif
46
Dukat 2004-2005, 289, no. 82; RIC 766.
47
Dukat 2004-2005, 289, no. 82; ael Kos on both sides of the tablet and Savus is being invoked can be seen on gold coins (aurei) and on silver medal-
1999, 101; Simn & Rod de Llanza 2008, at the beginning of the 3rd line of the reverse of the lions of Gallienus, the emperor who founded the mint
192-193; Margeti & Margeti 2008, 9-38.
48
ael Kos 1999, 101; Margeti & tablet: in this part however the persons on whom the of Siscia. Gallienus coins were used as a prototype for
Margeti 2009, 5-16. curse is being thrown are not mentioned. A part of the later anoniniani of Probus.48 There have been fre-

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Ante Rendi-Mioevi - Rivers and river deities in... (293-305) Histria Antiqua, 21/2012

Fig. 11. River gods of Sava and

Kupa (Savus and Colapis) on the
reverses of two antoniniani of
Probus (Siscia Probi Avg) from the
imanovci hoard, The Archaeologi-
cal Museum in Zagreb

quent discussions about Probus anoniniani and espe- Fig. 12. Marble statue of Neptune
from Vinkovci, The Archaeological
cially about the object held in the outspread hands of Museum in Zagreb
an enthroned female personification with diadem on
her head. Most frequently this object is referred to as a
broad diadem, but it is also described as a floral wreath
garland, or dress, i.e. drapery. The last-mentioned
suggestion is, according to the present author, only pos-
sible, given the appearance of this mysterious article
on specimens from Zagreb, because in all its elements
it reminds one of drapery. Nevertheless, in this context
we are more interested in depictions of rivers and river
gods. Margeti & Margeti quote that there are several
varieties of depictions of both rivers, depending on how
the waves are shown.49 There are also four different
ways of depicting river divinities, among which the one
relevant for Probus antoniniani is the one featuring a
figure swimming in a river, very similar to the figures
on the coins of Gallienus.50 The depiction of a bearded,
long-haired, half naked man with a vessel (amphora,
hydria etc.), from which water is flowing, is by the men-
tioned authors called the standard iconography.51 Both
figures on the Zagreb specimens are half nude and are
depicted as facing each other and holding a receptacle
turned upside down, with water pouring out from its
mouth. The importance of the Danube, this huge Euro-
pean river and the border of the Roman Empire, was in
a similar way recorded on the Trajans coin bearing the
legend Danuvius,52 and on the Constantines coin with
the legend Danubius,53 both issued on the occasions of
the respective emperors travels through the Danube
provinces: these coins also feature Danubes personifi- Although Neptune was predominantly a sea god,
cations as characteristic depictions of the river god in he was also frequently perceived as a water divinity in
the guise of a reclining adult man.54 The number of re- general, and according to this a river god as well: in fact, 49

50
Margeti & Margeti 2008, 17-18.
Ibidem.
clining figures depend on the number of the personified during the early stages of Roman religion he was more 51
Ibidem
rivers, so that, for instance, some coins of the Stobi mint directly linked with rivers and sources than with the 52
RIC, vol. II, 251.
53
RIC, vol. VII, 331.
feature two such juxtaposed figures, personifying the sea. It is significant that some curse tablets (defixiones), 54
Rendi-Mioevi 1990, 83-84.
rivers Axios and Erigon.55 like the previously mentioned one from the Kupa or the 55
Cfr. Josifovski 2010, 18, figs. 38-40.

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Ante Rendi-Mioevi - Rivers and river deities in... (293-305) Histria Antiqua, 21/2012

one from Bath in Britain, were addressed to Neptune.56 preserved. The Cibalae colony lay on the Bosut (Bathi-
This is also the reason why on this occasion, while enu- nus flumen), a left tributary of the Sava, therefore one
merating examples of the worship of river gods, I have cannot exclude the possibility that the discussed statue
included the fragmented Neptunes marble statue from of Neptune was in a way the reflection of the cult linked
Vinkovci (Cibalae), now in the Zagreb Archaeological with this river, although the piece was not found in it.57
Museum (Fig. 12). This statue dates from the early 3rd The examples discussed in this paper can be viewed
c. A.D.: Neptune is shown with characteristic icono- as indications of naval activities in the Croatian part
graphic elements, thick hair and beard and moustaches of the Roman province of Pannonia, and particularly
covering his face. Most probably his left foot was resting of the worship of river gods. In spite of various prov-
on a boat, which is not preserved. In his left hand he enances, the data bear witness to the importance given
held a dolphin, and in his entirely missing right hand to these segments of life of the population, particularly
there was obviously the Neptunes characteristic attrib- in connection with the cult of the local river divinities.
ute, the trident, but unfortunately neither this has been

ABBREVIATIONS
AIJ Antike Inschriften aus Jugoslavien
CIL Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum
CBI Centar za balkanoloka ispitivanja
NH Naturalis Historia
RE Realencyclopdie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft
RIC The Roman Imperial Coinage
IHAD Izdanja Hrvatskog arheolokog drutva
VAMZ Vjesnik Arheolokog muzeja u Zagrebu
VHAD Viestnik Hrvatskoga arkeologikoga drutva

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SAETAK

RIJEKE I RIJENA BOANSTVA U RIMSKO DOBA U HRVATSKOM DIJELU PANONIJE

Ante RENDI-MIOEVI

Rijeke su oduvijek sluile prometovanju i bile su vanim imbenikom u svakodnevnom ivotu stanovnitva.
U rimsko doba na europskim su prostorima u tom pogledu prednjaile velike europske rijeke Rajna i Dunav koje
su povezivale sjeverne i june, odnosno zapadne i istone oblasti kontinenta. Na podruju hrvatskog dijela Pano-
nije u prometnom, gospodarsko-trgovakom, a nerijetko i u strateko-vojnom pogledu, osim Dunava (Danuvius,
Danubius) koji je ujedno bio i graninom rijekom Carstva, od prvorazredne su vanosti bile Drava (Dravus) i Sava
(Savus), a zbog specifinih okolnosti uz njih jo i Kupa (Colapis), zatim Bosut (Bathinus flumen) i dr. O tomu svje-
doe povijesni izvori i brojni arheoloki nalazi, a na obalama navedenih rijeka bila su podignuta i znaajna urbana
sredita, zajedno s karakteristinim pripadajuom infrastrukturnim sadrajima, lukama, mostovima i sl. U takvom
kontekstu znakovit je natpis sauvan na opeki iz Siscije koji donosi podatak o Sisciji koja je, ini se, imala ak dvije
luke na suprotnim obalama Kupe. Meu najznaajnijim urbanim sreditima bile su kolonije Siscia (Sisak), Mursa
(Osijek) i Cibalae (Vinkovci). Sava je ujedno prometno povezivala Sisciju sa Sirmijom (Sirmium), a na njoj je bila
aktivna panonska flota (Classis Pannonica) koja je za vladavine Vespazijana stekla poasni naziv Flavia. Meu ar-
heolokim nalazima otkrivenim u koritima navedenih panonskih rijeka mnogo ih je koji nisu izravno povezani s
plovidbom ili tovanjem rijenih boanstava nego su u rijena korita dospjeli u drugaijim okolnostima. Za neke od
njih mogue je, meutim, pretpostaviti povezanost s plovidbom, odnosno s prometovanjem rijekama. Pretpostavka
je, primjerice, da su Dravom bili transportirani mramorni rtvenici dvojice Mitrinih bakljonoa Kauta (Cautes) i
Kautopata (Cautopates) pronaeni u umjetnom jezeru, odnosno meimurskoj ljunari jugoistono od akovca,
a plovidbi vjerojatno treba zahvaliti i mnogobrojne bronane ulomke monumentalnih skulptura otkrivene u Kupi
nedaleko od Karlovca. I drugih slinih nalaza ne nedostaje, premda je teko sa sigurnou utvrditi nain na koji su
dospjeli do mjesta nalaza i sa sigurnou zakljuiti da su nalazi posljedica plovidbe rijekama. Vrijedan je isticanja
i zanimljii zapis na jednoj opeki otkrivenoj na siscijskom podruju iz kojega je mogue pretpostaviti da su u tom
gornjopanonskom gradu postojale ak dvije luke na suprotnim obalama Kupe.
Osobita pozornost u ovoj je prigodi posveena boanstvima navedenih rijeka, odnosno epigrafikim i figuralnim
potvrdama njihova tovanja. Meu najzanimljivijima svakako je spomenik gotovo monumentalnih dimenzija s
posvetom Dunavu i Dravi (Danuvio et Dravo). Rije je o rtveniku, vjerojatno iz vremena Elagabala, koji je izvorno
bio podignut na povienom mjestu u dananjem Aljmau, u blizini ua Drave u Dunav, po svem sudei s namjerom
da bi bio dostupan pogledima lanova posada brodovlja koje se kretalo tim podrujem. Od teksta koji je bio znatno

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dui ostali su sauvani samo retci u kojima se nalazi posveta navedenim rijekama, uz jo nekoliko teko itljivih
rijei i pojedinanih slova u donjem dijelu natpisa: preostali dio teksta veim dijelom je naknadno bio namjerno era-
diran. Istom paru boanstava bilo je posveeno i nekoliko rtvenika pohranjenih u Pokrajinskom muzeju u Ptuju.
Od drugih spomenika posveenih Dunavu zanimljivi su rtvenici s posvetom Dunavu koji otjee (Danuvio deflu-
enti) iz Akvinka (Aquincum), kao i rtvenik posveen neobinom paru boanstava, vrhovnom rimskom boanstvu
Jupiteru i Dunavu (I. O. M et Danuvio) koji potjee iz Augsburga (Augusta Vindelicum).
ini se, takoer, da je lik rijenog boanstva, vjerojatno personificirani lik boanstva rijeke Drave (Drav, Dravus)
prikazan u sklopu kamene figuralne kompozicije iz zagrebakog Arheolokog muzeja, podrijetlom iz Murse. Na
tom fragmentarnom figuralnom spomeniku dominira sjedei enski lik (Tyche, personifikacija Murse ?), a pod njim
je u poloaju plivaa u vodi prikazan bradati i dugokosi ovjeuljak (Dravus ?) za kojeg je mogue pretpostaviti da
prikazuje personificirani lik istoimene rijeke.
Od spomenika posveenih Savu (Savus), boanstvu istoimene rijeke, esto je privlaio pozornost strune jav-
nosti rtvenik s posvetom Uzvienom Savu (Savo Augusto) iz itarjeva (Andautonia). tovanje tog boanstva evi-
dentirano je na nekoliko spomenika, a zanimljivo je da svi potjeu iz gornjeg toka rijeke, iz okolice Emone te iz
Andautonije i Siscije. Potrebno je, takoer, istaknuti da je u gornjem toku Save, na podruju Slovenije, otkriveno
nekolio rtvenika posveeno paru boanstava Savu i Adsaluti (Adsalluta), enskom boanstvu keltskih Tauriska.
Ime rijenog boanstva Sava (Savus) zabiljeeno je, takoer, i na olovnoj ploici s dvostranim natpisom otkrivenoj
u Kupi u Sisku: rije je o tekstu koji sadri kletvu (defixio) u kojemu se od Sava prieljkuje kanjavanje (potapanje)
pojedinaca kojima je kletva bila upuena.
Personificirani likovi rijenih boanstava, poglavito rijeka Save i Kupe, pojavljuju se i na novcu. Na dva pri-
mjerka antoninijana cara Proba iz ostave imanovci u Srijemu s legendom Siscia Probi Aug(usti) XXIQ oba su
pohranjena u zagrebakom Arheolokome muzeju na reversu su pod sjedeim enskim likom, personifikacijom
grada Siscije, jo i likovi dvojice odraslih, bradatih mukaraca prikazali u leeem poloaju, rijenih boanstava koji
su oigledno personifikacije rijenih boanstava Save (Savus) i Kupe (Colapis). Slian motiv pojavljuje se i na an-
toninijanima cara Galijena (Gallienus), osnivaa siscjske kovnice, s legendom Siscia Aug(usti): lik leeeg bradatog
mukarca karakteristian je za ikonografiju rijenih boanstava, a najbolji primjer su personifikacije nekih dobro
poznatih rijeka, poput Nila ili Tibra.
Naposljetku, kao mogui pokazatelj tovanja boanstava voda, to podrazumijeva i rijeke, u konkretnom sluaju
Bosut (Bathinus flumen), mogue je u takvom kontekstu promatrati i nalaz mramornog kipa Neptuna, otkrivenog
u Vinkovcima (Cibalae) i danas pohranjenog u Arheolokom muzeju u Zagrebu.

305