Zalai Múzeum 11. Kereszténység Pannóniában az első évezredben (Zalaegerszeg, 2002)

Migotti, Branka: Early Christianity in Aquac Iasae

ZALAI MÚZEUM 11 2002 Migotti, Branka Early Christianity in Aquae Iasae (Varazdinske Toplice) and Iovia (Ludbreg) in Pannónia Savia 1. Introduction Northern Croatia encompasses the most of the southern portion of the Roman province Pannónia, that is, the whole of Pannónia Savia and roughly two thirds of Pannónia Secunda. This area borders with Noricum (present-day Slovenia) on the west, with two Pannonias: Prima and Valeria (present-day Hungary) on the north and with Dalmatia (present-day central Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina) on the south. (Fig. 1) Both the early Christian material finds and the state of relevant scholarship in the bordering countries are much more advanced in comparison with northern Croatia. Consequently, an abundance of early Christian architecture and small finds are characteristic of the late Roman horizon in Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia, central and southern Croatia and northern Serbia. Northern Croatia, on the contrary, offers quite a different picture. According to my investigation and insight, only 18 securely or potentially early Christian sites have been recorded so far, of which only 8 are undeniably early Christian in terms of material record. (Fig. 2) First come three bishoprics: Siscia/Sisak (11), Mursa/Osijek (8) and Cibalae/Vinkovci (17). Iovia/Ludbreg is not included among them, because the identity of the place is still disputed and no secure early Christian finds have been recovered there (this issue will be addressed later in the text). A further 5 sites are undoubtedly Christian: Aquae Iasae/Varazdinske Toplice (15), the most important of all in terms of archaeological evidence, i. е., the only to have yielded early Christian architecture; Ozalj (9), probably a hilltop fortified settlement with a church and therefore akin to a large group of sites in the Alpine and sub-Alpine region of neighbouring Slovenia; Strbinci, most probably Roman Certissia (14), with an abundance of early Christian grave finds; Veliki Bastaji (16) near Daruvar (Aquae Balissae) and Zagreb (18). The remaining 10 sites have yielded small finds with only probable or even merely possible early Christian significance. Altogether, of the indisputable material evidence of early Christianity in northern Croatia only one church has come to light - an adapted building at Aquae Iasae, in addition to some 12 grave monuments and around 30 small objects. On the other side, nearly the same amount of various sorts of material belongs to the category of uncertain finds, whose exact determination would depend on the context, which in the majority of cases is missing. Such a ratio clearly points out to an urgent need for archaeological investigation into the early Christian horizon in northern Croatia.

1 Significantly, the majority of small finds stem from Sisak, a Roman town sadly neglected in terms of systematic archaeological research. Had the contrary been the case, this town would have inevitably yielded a whole wealth of small artefacts in addition to Christian architecture. In short, the picture of the early Christianity of northern Croatia figures as dull and unexpectedly poor in material record, while this area emerges as a sort of an early Christian archaeological desert surrounded with the provinces much richer in finds. The question inevitably arises of why this should be so. In other words, is it a true picture or just an accident of archaeology? If true, such a state of matters requires an explanation. The assumption of south Pannónia (its easternmost section with Sirmium excluded) lacking in early Christian finds should first be verified against the background of historical record. Most significant and instructive in this respect is comparison with the northern part of the province, i. е., the area of present-day Hungary. Dr. Gaspár's book on early Christianity in Hungary, completed several years ago and eagerly waited for, is long overdue. Consequently, I am not acquainted enough with the state of early Christian scholarship in Hungary, especially in the light of the fact that a few architectural complexes, initially determined as early Christian, have subsequently been discarded as such.

2 Despite such drawbacks, resulting in limitations of knowledge and hesitances in interpretation, it is more or less true that the early Christian horizon in northern Pannónia is far richer in finds than its southern section. But, is such a state of matters justified by the logic of historical considerations? Not likely. First of all, the province of Pannónia is a natural, geographic, geopolitical, historical and cultural whole with similar conditions for development throughout history, antiquity included. During all of the Roman period the teritorry between the Sava and Drava had