Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 23-24. (1994)

I. Arheologie

11

CELTS AND GERMANS IN DACIA

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Daciarum III and decurio coloniae at Apulum or Potaissa-105 might be considered the most fervent worshipper of the Germanic divinities in Dacia. This unusual predilection might be explained106 by the fact that P.Aelius Maximus in the time of the equestrian militiae, somewhere on the Lower Rhine, approached himself to the Germanic divinities (Hercules Magusanus, Gesahenae) worshipping them even after he returns in Dacia.

From the castrum of Gherla,107 comes the second epigraphical evidence of Hercules Magusanus, honoured by Aurelius Tato, stator alae II Pannoniorum. In this case, it seems that we have to do with a faithful believer of his homeland god.

Mars Camulus108 -originated to the land of the Rems-,109 is known only by a few inscriptions110 from the zones populated by Rems and Trevers to whom three epigraphs,111 discovered in Britannia, Dacia and Rome, are added.

At Sarmizegetusa,112 Mars Camulus appears associated with Invictus Mithras, Mercurius and Rosmerta. If the worshipp of Mars Camulus in the company of some other divinities of same origin (Mercurius - Rosmerta) is very natural, one can't say the same think aboute the occurance of Mithras on the monument from Sarmizegetusa. Here, as at Ciumäfaia, the presence of Mithras in association with Celto-Germanic divinities might be explained by the pressure of the Oriental cults, a reality also illustrated by the "orientalizing" taste of the epoch.113

It is important, also, to observe that the monument from Sarmizegetusa is the unique epigraphical evidence of the Treverian114 couple Mercurius - Rosmerta outside its motherland.'

In the Roman epoch, the Mothers Goddesse (Matronae, Matres)115 occurs in the shape of individuals, families and even of whole communities' protectresses. The Matronae -personification of the idea of

105 I.Piso. in Potaissa, II, p. 127.

106 M. Macrea, in AISC, V, 1944-1948, p.231 sq.

107 AISC. V, 1944-1948. p.232 - Germania, 53. 1975. p.172 = AE. 1977. 504.

103 LexMyth, 1/1, c. 850, s.v. Camulus (Steuding).

109 H.Merten, in Trierer Zeitschrift. 48. 1985. p.99.

110 CIL. XIII. 8671; CIL. XIII. 8701 = /LS. 235; CIL. XIII. 11818.

111 CIL. VII, 1103 = RIB. 2166; CIL VI, 46 = ILS. 4632.

112 H. Daicoviciu. D.Alicu, Cdonia Ulpia Traiana Augusta Dacica Sarmizegetusa. Bucure$ti. 1984, p.181.

113 M. Bärbulescu. Interferenfespirituale.... p.134-180.

114 C. Bémont, op.cit.. p.132.

115 LexMyth. 11/2, C. 2464-2479, s.v. Matres, Matronae. Matrae (Ihm); RE. XIV, c.2213-2250. s.v. Matres (Heichelheim); Matronen und verwandte Gottheiten, in Beihefte der Bonner Jahrbücher. Band 44,1987, p. 1-254.