DOI Artikel:
Tsarov, Ivan: The cult of the Danubian rider-gods in the city's territory of Nicopolis ad Istrum
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41866#0025
Ivan Tsarov
Veliko Tamovo
THE CULT OF THE DANUBIAN RIDER-GODS
IN THE CITY’S TERRITORY OF NICOPOLIS AD ISTRUM
The researches upon the religions cults and practices in Nicopolis ad Istrum
and its city’s territory keep one steadily increasing interest. In the last years
appeared generalited publications [Gocheva 1984, 87-92; Vladkova 2002;
Lungarova 2002] as well as such about separate divinities from the Greek-Roman
and Thracian pantheon — Athene [Doncheva 2002], Asclepius [Doncheva 1999,
170-177], Thracian Heros, Heros Suregethes [Tsarov 1999, 78-87]. Though, in
this vast matter “blank spaces” still exist. The aim of this work is to attach another
fragment to the puzzle of the varied religions life. This fragment is called “The
Danubian rider-gods”.
The cult of the Danubian rider-gods is known exclusively and only by its
iconographic records. Because of its mysterical character demanding that the
enlightened should keep secret about its ceremonial religious rites, nowhere in
the sources information about its essence could be found. Even its name is
unknown, the term “Danubian rider-gods“ is introduced in our time [Tudor 1937,
195]. Its highly expressed syncretism, observed in its iconography, led to
numerous and various, often contradictory characteristics, best generalited by
Tudor [1976, 23-51]. There the researches of Kazarow [1938] and Mladenova
[1958, 545-555] about the records of the nowadays Bulgarian lands are also
considered.
From Nicopolis and its city’s territory (last on this problem [Tacheva 2000,
63-68] and the quoted literature there) come give records and the images represent
the habitual iconography. Generally — in the centre of the field is the Great
Goddess, facing her two (or one) riders, stepped on thrown down victims, on the
upper part the busts of Sol and Luna, in the lower part mysteric attributes. In the
catalogue the specific details of everyone are introduced. As it was said above,
its iconographic characteristics is well known. That is why we don’t consider it
necessary to deal with it once more. Instead of this we introduce some ideas
connected with the bearers of the cult and make a new complete catalogical
description of the records that have long ago entered in scientific requisition
Veliko Tamovo
THE CULT OF THE DANUBIAN RIDER-GODS
IN THE CITY’S TERRITORY OF NICOPOLIS AD ISTRUM
The researches upon the religions cults and practices in Nicopolis ad Istrum
and its city’s territory keep one steadily increasing interest. In the last years
appeared generalited publications [Gocheva 1984, 87-92; Vladkova 2002;
Lungarova 2002] as well as such about separate divinities from the Greek-Roman
and Thracian pantheon — Athene [Doncheva 2002], Asclepius [Doncheva 1999,
170-177], Thracian Heros, Heros Suregethes [Tsarov 1999, 78-87]. Though, in
this vast matter “blank spaces” still exist. The aim of this work is to attach another
fragment to the puzzle of the varied religions life. This fragment is called “The
Danubian rider-gods”.
The cult of the Danubian rider-gods is known exclusively and only by its
iconographic records. Because of its mysterical character demanding that the
enlightened should keep secret about its ceremonial religious rites, nowhere in
the sources information about its essence could be found. Even its name is
unknown, the term “Danubian rider-gods“ is introduced in our time [Tudor 1937,
195]. Its highly expressed syncretism, observed in its iconography, led to
numerous and various, often contradictory characteristics, best generalited by
Tudor [1976, 23-51]. There the researches of Kazarow [1938] and Mladenova
[1958, 545-555] about the records of the nowadays Bulgarian lands are also
considered.
From Nicopolis and its city’s territory (last on this problem [Tacheva 2000,
63-68] and the quoted literature there) come give records and the images represent
the habitual iconography. Generally — in the centre of the field is the Great
Goddess, facing her two (or one) riders, stepped on thrown down victims, on the
upper part the busts of Sol and Luna, in the lower part mysteric attributes. In the
catalogue the specific details of everyone are introduced. As it was said above,
its iconographic characteristics is well known. That is why we don’t consider it
necessary to deal with it once more. Instead of this we introduce some ideas
connected with the bearers of the cult and make a new complete catalogical
description of the records that have long ago entered in scientific requisition