engleski

The taurobolium and criobolium in Dalmatia

The taurobolium and criobolium rites, during which a bull or a ram were sacrificed according to the specific customs, were performed in the cult of the Phrygian Cybele (the Roman Great Mother) from the latter half of second century onward. Besides the private context, these rites were also performed officially for priests or the other devotees of this Phrygian cult and for the benefit of an emperor (pro salute imperatoris). Imperial propaganda was an important reason for the spread of Cybele’s cult through the Empire since she was, just like Venus, considered as the mother of the State. I assume that in Dalmatia, where according to the archaeological evidence her cult was very well represented, an important reason for performing the taurobolium and criobolium was to worship an emperor. The Imperial cult is very well documented in Dalmatian places where the Goddess was popular and in a few cases it was related to her cult there. The majority of Dalmatian monuments testifying to the worship of Great Mother Cybele can be dated approximately to the time of Emperors Claudius and Antoninus Pius – the patrons and reformers of her cult. However, although scholars have linked several figural representations, inscriptions and architectural complexes from Iader, Burnum, Asseria and Salona to the taurobolium and criobolium, only an altar with a dedication and images of a priest, a ram’s head and a knife, found in Asseria, unambiguously testifies to the criobolia. There is not enough evidence to confirm that the other Dalmatian monuments ascribed to taurobolium or criobolium were actually related to those rituals.

taurobolium, criobolium, sacrifice, Great Mother Cybele, Imperial cult, Iader, Asseria, Burnum, Salona

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