A Debreceni Déri Múzeum Évkönyve 1966-1967 (Debrecen, 1968)

Balla Lajos–Tóth István: Adatok Pannónia és Dácia kapcsolataihoz

Lajos Ballá and István Tóth Some facts on relations between Pannónia and Dacia The authors discuss certain questions of relations between two Danubian provinces from the aspects of the "inside" story, i.e. settlement and economic history. The first part of the paper gives a novel compilation and historical evaluation of inscriptions that mention Pannonians in the territory of Dacia (no. 1-7), and persons of Dacia living in Pannónia (no. 8-13). Pannonians went to Dacia as soldiers first of all (no. 3, 4, 7), with troops detailed there (no. 7), and for filling the ranks from Pannónia (no. 3, 7); further on the basis of trade relations between the two provinces (no. 1, 2) and the early colonisation of Dacia (no. 5). It has been found that larger numbers of Pannonians were present mainly in certain districts of Dacia Superior and Porolissensis. Soldiers and businessmen from Dacia can be shown to have been staying in Pannónia (Pannónia Inferior, no. 12, 13) and (no. 8-11) respectively. Of the inscriptions discussed here, the stone monuments of С Titius Agathopus Aug.col. Sisciae et Sarm (izegetusae) and of Iestinus Super (no. 1,2) which throw light upon the motivities in Dacia of Pannonian businessmen, support previous conclusions (A. Alföldi) made in connection with the exports of Pannonian (Siscia, East Pannónia) terrasigillata and brick shops to Dacia (Lower Danube, Moesia respectively), and raise the possibility that even the goods of certain WestPannonian workshops were sent during the 2nd century to that province which was established in 106 (cf. no. 2). Inscriptions studied under no. 8-11 evidence the activities of negotiatores Dacisci (settled westerners, Dalmatians, orientals, etc.)

—to be found also in other, more remote territories of the Empire

—in Pannónia, along the Danube, Drava and Sava rivers. Communication between Pannónia and Dacia was maintained through the limes and waterways at the Lower Danube, roads leading through Sarmatian land, and through the Maros-Tisza waterway. Although private tradesmen preferred to use the safe and cheap Danube route, the roads and traffic through the Barbaricum were of some importance as well. Direct communications between the two provinces can be shown, or assumed, to have existed in four directions across the great Hungarian Plains

: along the routes of Aquincum-Porolissum, Intercisa-Bologa (Sebesváralj a), Lugio (Dunaszekcső)- Szeged-Micia (Vetel-Vecel) and Acumincum (Slankemen)- SzegedMicia. A particular phenomenon in the field of intellectual life in the relations between the two provinces is the relationship, clearly demonstrable in certain respects, between the Silvanus cult in Pannónia and Dacia. As appears clearly from the invoked images of this god, the formulations of the reverence and cult of Silvanus were gaining ground in Dacia coming directly from Dalmatia and Pannónia. The Pannonian relationship is indicated by the domestic image of the deity often invoked in inscriptions, and so is the sylvan image, since all these had a comparable importance only in the Pannonian cult. It may be regarded as characteristic that Silvanus Domesticus was the subject of sacral cult as the deity protecting trade activities at Micia, the Dacián border station of the communication route between Dacia and Pannónia leading through the Barbaricum. 130