The Danubian provinces (in this case study we included Raetia, Noricum, Pannonia Superior, Pannonia Inferior, Moesia Superior, Moesia Inferior and Dacia) represents one of the largest macro-units of the Roman Empire. This region united numerous glocal groups from the Celtic world with the Illyrian, Hellenistic and Thracian worlds too. During the first three centuries A.D. the region became highly militarized and a very dynamic area, where military dislocations and commercial mobilities contributed to the formation of numerous religious appropriations and a great variety of forms of glocal religious communication.
This chapter presents the first comprehensive list of divinities attested in the rich epigraphic material of the above mentioned provinces (EDH: 5724, EDSC: 7327 inscriptions), completed with numerous figurative stone monuments from the major databases and catalogues (LIMC, CSIR, lupa.at, EPRO series and recent publications).
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Adonis
Adonis, in Greek mythology, a youth of remarkable beauty, the favourite of the goddess Aphrodite (identified with Venus by the Romans). Traditionally, he was the product of the incestuous love Smyrna (Myrrha) entertained for her own father, the Syrian king Theias (Encyclopaedia Britannica). The divinity is attested epigraphically in Aquincum, Pannonia Inferior.
Inscriptions:
CIL 03, 10392 = D 04273 = TitAq-01, 00029
Adrastia
Is a divinity from Asia Minor, probably of Phrygian origin. She was considered to be Zeus consort; however, she was occasionally identified with Cybele, Nemesis and Artemis. She appears only on one epigraphic source in the Danubian provinces (Dacia).
Inscriptions:
CIL 03, 00944 = IDR-03-04, 00215: In h(onorem) d(omus) d(ivinae) / Adrastiae / collegi(um) / utric(u)lariorum
Aecorna
Pre-Roman divinity of Celtic origin, popular especially in Emona and in the South-Western Adriatic regions. In the Danubian provinces only few cases are known from epigraphic sources.
Inscriptions
AE 1980, 00496; AE 1934, 00068 = AE 2015, +00441.
See also: Šašel Kos, Marjeta, The goddess Aecorna in Emona. In: Festschrift für Jenő Fitz. Jenő Fitz septuagenario 1991, 85-90.
Aeracura
Erecura or Aerecura was a goddess probably with Celtic origins, mostly represented with the attributes of Proserpina and associated with the Roman underworld god Dis Pater. In the Danubian provinces the divinity was attested in Pannonia Superior and Dacia. Here the goddess can be associated with the mining communities of Alburnus Maior.
Inscriptions
CIL 03, 04395 (p 1045) = CIL 03, 11087; AE 1990, 841
Aesculapius et Hygeia
Is the Greek god of medicine; he was introduced Rome through the Sybilline Books. He was associed with Apollo and Salus. He appears with the caduceus and snake as his attributes, many times pared with Hygeia and Telesphorus especially on inscriptions. Aesculapius and Hygeia are well attested in the Danubian provinces, especially in Roman Dacia. The god of medicine appears in Sarmizegetusa bearing a geographical ephitet, Pergamenus.
Inscriptions:
CIL 03, 11758 (p 2199) = ILLPRON 01126; ILLPRON 00436; CIL 03, 11538 = ILLPRON 00467; CIL 03, 04772 = ILLPRON 00624; AE 2015, 01098 = AE 2017, +01146; CIL 03, 10971 = RIU-02, 00374; RIU-02, 00373; CIL 03, 03834; EDCS-10001083; AE 2012, +00541; AE 1920, 00064; EDCS-72400242; CIL 03, 03412; TitAq-01, 00030; TitAq-01, 00031= AE 1937, 00180; TitAq-01, 00032 = AE 1972, 00363; TitAq-01, 00034 = AE 1937, 00182; TitAq-01, 00035 = AE 1982, 00805; TitAq-01, 00036; TitAq-01, 00037 = AE 2009, 01106; CIL 03, 03326 = CIL 03, 10302; CIL 03, 03388 = TitAq-02, 00998; CIL 03, 15137 = ILJug-03, 03003; AE 2014, 01117; ILJug-03, 01447; AE 1934, 00186; ILBulg 00201; IScM-05, 00239 = AE 1980, 00828; AE 1987, 00888; AE 1987, 00891; EDCS-68900041; EDCS-68900058; EDCS-76100077; EDCS-59800111; AE 1998, 01133; AE 1998, 01134 = AE 2003, +01541; EDCS-13301363; EDCS-13301364; AE 2012, 01264; AE 1998, 01131 = AE 1999, +00093b; AE 1998, 01130; AE 2013, 01346; AE 1993, 01337 = IDR-03-05-01, 00013; CIL 03, 00972 = IDR-03-05-01, 00001; CIL 03, 00974 = IDR-03-05-01, 00004; CIL 03, 00975 = IDR-03-05-01, 00006; CIL 03, 00976 = IDR-03-05-01, 00007; CIL 03, 00977 = IDR-03-05-01, 00005; CIL 03, 00978 = IDR-03-05-01, 00008; CIL 03, 00979 (p 1390) = IDR-03-05-01, 00009; CIL 03, 00980 = IDR-03-05-01, 00010; CIL 03, 00981 = IDR-03-05-01, 00011; CIL 03, 00982 = IDR-03-05-01, 00016; CIL 03, 00984 = IDR-03-05-01, 00018; CIL 03, 00985 = IDR-03-05-01, 00019; CIL 03, 00986 = IDR-03-05-01, 00020; CIL 03, 00987 = IDR-03-05-01, 00021; CIL 03, 07740 = IDR-03-05-01, 00012; CIL 03, 12558 = IDR-03-05-01, 00017; CIL 03, 14468 = D 07149 = IDR-03-05-01, 00014; IDR-03-05-01, 00003; CIL 03, 07655; IDR-03-03, 00230; IDR-03-03, 00231; IDR-03-03, 00232 = AE 1944, 00059; AE 1992, 01480; CIL 03, 00786; CIL 03, 01560 = IDR-03-01, 00054; CIL 03, 01561 = IDR-03-01, 00055; AE 2009, 01183 = AE 2014, +00089; CIL 03, 07820 = IDR-03-03, 00382; AE 2003, 01493; IDR-02, 00182 = AE 1959, 00328; CIL 03, 01417 = IDR-03-02, 00154; CIL 03, 01417a = D 03854 = IDR-03-02, 00164; CIL 03, 01427; CIL 03, 07896 = IDR-03-02, 00152; CIL 03, 07897 = IDR-03-02, 00168; CIL 03, 07898 = IDR-03-02, 00177; CIL 03, 07899 = IDR-03-02, 00158; CIL 03, 12579 = IDR-03-02, 00183; CIL 03, 13775 = IDR-03-02, 00171; IDR-03-02, 00151 = AE 1911, 00033; IDR-03-02, 00153 = AE 1914, 00111; IDR-03-02, 00155 = AE 1977, 00677; IDR-03-02, 00156; DR-03-02, 00159 = AE 1914, 00110; IDR-03-02, 00161 = AE 1977, 00679; IDR-03-02, 00162; IDR-03-02, 00163; IDR-03-02, 00165; IDR-03-02, 00166; IDR-03-02, 00169; IDR-03-02, 00170; IDR-03-02, 00172; IDR-03-02, 00173; IDR-03-02, 00174; IDR-03-02, 00175; IDR-03-02, 00329; AE 1983, 00837; AE 2011, +00840; AE 2012, 01215 = AE 2014, +00038; CIL 03, 00951 = CIL 03, 07720; CIL 03, 01278 = IDR-03-03, 00287; CIL 03, 01279 = CIL 03, 01280; IDR-03-03, 00280 = AE 1959, 00306;
Adsalluta-Savus
Adsalluta is a Noric, possibly Illyrian goddess of Celtic mythology . She is a river goddess and goddess of the rapids. Adsalluta is mentioned in votive inscriptions mainly from the village of Sava near the Save river. In several of these inscriptions it is with Savus, the River God said in ancient river Savus mentioned. It has been suggested that she is the personification of the Savinja, a tributary of the Sava.
See also: Marjeta Šašel Kos: Savus and Adsalluta. In: Archaeological Journal, 45, 1994, 99–122.
Inscriptions:
CIL 03, 11685 = ILLPRON 01784; CIL 03, 05134 = CIL 03, 11680; CIL 03, 05135 = ILLPRON 01938; CIL 03, 05136 (p 1828, 2328,26) = ILLPRON 01939; CIL 03, 05138 = ILLPRON 01941; CIL 03, 11684 = ILLPRON 01859; AIJ 00255 = RICeleia 00249; ILLPRON 01874 = AE 1938, 00151
Alounae
Alauna might be cognate with the goddesses Alounae, known from dedications discovered in the area of Salzburg (Austria), more precisely in Chieming and Seeon. Šašel Kos points out that the Alounae can be paralleled to the ethnonym Alauni, a tribe settled in Noricum. Delamarre and De Bernardo Stempel translate the divine names Alauna and Alounae as ‘Nourisher(s)’, relating them to Old Irish alim and Old Norse ala, derived from an IE root *al- meaning ‘to nourish’. (source). The divinity is associated also with Bedaius.
Inscriptions:
CIL 03, 11779 = ILLPRON 01501; CIL 03, 05572; CIL 03, 05581
Antinoos
Antinous (also Antinoüs, Latin: Antinous) or Antinoös (Ancient Greek: Ἀντίνοος, romanized: Antínoös) was a Greek youth from Bithynia and a favourite beloved of the Roman emperor Hadrian. After his premature death before his twentieth birthday, Antinous was deified on Hadrian’s orders, being worshipped in both the Greek East and Latin West, sometimes as a god (theos) and sometimes merely as a hero (ἥρως, hḗrōs). In the Danubian provinces it was attested on one or two inscriptions (the one from Carnuntum is problematic).
Inscriptions
ILJug-02, 00501 = AE 1972, 00500
Apio Dalmatarum
The decipherment of this divinity’s name is problematic: Aptus/Apius Delm(arum,-ius). New research proves the fact that this divinity comes from the Illyrian area, and it is worshipped as a god of the healing water. It was attested only once in the province of Dacia at Alburnus Maior.
Inscription:
AE 2003, 01501: Apto Del/m(atarum) sacrum / Purtus / et German/us / v(otum) s(olverunt) l(ibentes) / m(erito)
Apollo Auluzelus
Local appropriation of the god Apollo attested in Moesia Inferior, predominantly in Greek speaking communities.
Inscription:
AE 2003, 01538
Apollo Grannus
Grannus (also Granus, Mogounus and Amarcolitanus) was a Celtic deity of classical antiquity. Based on the etymology of his name, Grannus may have been associated with spas, thermal springs, and the sun; having bushy hair, beard and/or eyebrows; or having a connection with the concept of shining/gleaming. He was regularly identified with Apollo as Apollo Grannus. He was frequently worshipped in conjunction with Sirona, and sometimes with Mars and other deities. In the Danubian provinces, Apollo Grannus is very popular especially in the Western provinces, especially in Raetia and Noricum.
Inscriptions
AE 1992, 01304; CIL 03, 05861 (p 2328,50) = CIL 03, 11891; CIL 03, 05870 (p 2328,50); CIL 03, 05873 (p 1854); CIL 03, 05881; CIL 03, 05874 = AE 2008, 00989; CIL 03, 05876; CIL 03, 11903 (p 2328,201); CIL 03, 05588 (p 1839) = ILLPRON 01497; ILLPRON 00475 = AE 1978, 00595; CIL 03, 00074 = IDR-03-02, 00191; AE 1983, 00828;
Apollo Pirunenos
Attested in Alburnus Maior, the divinity is probably an Illyrian god associated with the mining communities arrived from Dalmatia.
Inscription
AE 2003, 01502: Apollini / Piruneno / sac(rum) Mac/rianus Surio(nis) / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)
Aquila
The symbol of the Roman Empire and the imperial power, the Eagle is not only a personification, but also a divinised figure of Roman imperial power. The eagle – probably present in numerous aedes signorum in auxiliary forts and legionary fortresses – was attested on few figurative monuments and an inscription in the Danubian provinces.
Inscriptions
AE 1935, 00098 = AE 2016, 01240: Aquil(a)e et Geni/o leg(ionis) I adi(utricis) p(iae) f(idelis) An/ton[iu]s Lucius / p(rimus) p(ilus) leg(ionis) s(upra) s(criptae) posuit
Aquo
Local, pre-Roman divinity from Noricum, probably attested on an inscription from Sentjur-Rifnik.
Inscription
ILLPRON 01837 = AE 1974, 00488: Aquoni sacr(um) / C(aius) Stat(ius?) Masc(u)lus / et / Public(ius) Ianuar(ius) / v(otum) s(olverunt) l(ibentes) m(erito)
Artavis
Indigenous divinity of the Illyrian-Dalmatian groups, attested in Alburnus Maior, Roman Dacia in the mining context.
Inscription:
AE 2003, 01503: Dib(us) Artavis(?) / Bato Sec/undi / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)
Ata
Probably a pre-Roman, indigenous divinity from unknown (Celtic or Scordiscan) origin, attested in Naissus, Moesia Superior.
Inscription
ILJug-02, 00576 = AE 1972, 00535: Attae / sacr(um) / Melio/ris v(otum) s(olvit)
Atrans
Local, probably Celtic divinity from Noricum.
Inscription:
CIL 03, 05117 (p 2198) = ILLPRON 01930: Atranti / Aug(ustae) sac(rum) / Fortunatus / C(ai) Antoni Rufi / proc(uratoris) Aug(usti) ser(vus) vil(icus) / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito)
Azizos
One of the celestial divinities from Edessa (under the name „Azisu”, meaning: the strong, fortis) is an Arabian god of the morning star who precedes the Sun. He might be identical with Bonus Puer, attested often in Roman Dacia.
Inscriptions
RIU-05, 01053 = AE 1910, 00142; CIL 03, 00875;
Badones Reginae
Celtic or Germanic goddesses (matronae). Their cult probably was one of the many local Mater cults or from the Germanias (Boduhennae lucus – Tacitus, Annales, IV. 73) or Britannia (Mons Badonicus). They are known in the whole Roman Empire only from a single inscription from Apulum.
Inscriptions:
CIL 03, 14471 = IDR-03-05-01, 00037: Badonib(us) / Reginis / Sextia Au/gustina / ex voto
Baltis
Known also as Balti, the divinity probably is a Syrian or Arabic goddess from Edessa, associated often with Atargatis-Dea Syria. The divinity could be associated with the Arabic goddess al-Uzza. It was very popular in Pannonia Inferior, especially in military context, probably as one of the local divinities transported by the army.
Inscriptions
RIU-01, 00240; CIL 03, 10973 = RIU-02, 00624; RIU-02, 00379 = AE 1944, 00115; CIL 03, 04273 = CIL 03, 10964.
Bedaius
Celtic divinity, associated with aquatic features (often called as a sea god, however his attributes might be much more flexible). He is often associated with Alounae. His cult was attested only in Noricum.
Inscriptions:
CIL 03, 05572 = ILLPRON 01503; CIL 03, 05574 = ILLPRON 01499; CIL 03, 11777 = ILLPRON 01504; CIL 03, 11778 = ILLPRON 01500; CIL 03, 05581 (p 2328,201) = ILLPRON 01546.
Belenus
Belenus, (Celtic: possibly, Bright One), one of the most ancient and most widely worshipped of the pagan Celtic deities; he was associated with pastoralism. A great fire festival, called Beltane (or Beltine), was held on May 1 and was probably originally connected with his cult. On that day the cattle were purified and protected by fire before being put out to the open pastures for the summer. Despite associations of his name with fire or the sun, Belenus was not a sun god; in fact, there is no Celtic evidence for the worship of the sun as such, even though it was often used in religious imagery (Encyclopaedia Britannica). It was attested in Noricum.
Inscriptions
AE 2003, 01303; ILLPRON 00137 = Leber 00199; Leber 00016; CIL 03, 04774.
Bellona
Bellona, original name Duellona, in Roman religion, goddess of war, identified with the Greek Enyo. Sometimes known as the sister or wife of Mars, she has also been identified with his female cult partner Nerio. Her temple at Rome stood in the Campus Martius, outside the city’s gates near the Circus Flaminius and the temple of Apollo (Encyclopaedia Britannica). In the Danubian provinces, there are few inscriptions dedicated exclusively for Bellona, however it was sometimes associated with Virtus and Victoria.
Inscriptions
IMS-06, 00001 = AE 1984, 00745: Deae / Bello/nae / C(aius) Iuli/us Lon/ginus / dec(urio) q(uin)q(uennalis) / ex visu
Belestis
Epichoric divinity of Celtic origins attested especially in the Western part of the Danubian provinces.
Inscriptions
CIL 03, 04773 = ILLPRON 00446; CIL 03, 04773 = ILLPRON 00446; ILLPRON 00654.
Bona Dea
Bona Dea was a goddess in ancient Roman religion. She was associated with chastity and fertility in Roman women, healing, and the protection of the state and people of Rome. According to Roman literary sources, she was brought from Magna Graecia at some time during the early or middle Republic and was given her own state cult on the Aventine Hill. It is rarely attested North of the Alps, especially in the Danubian provinces.
Inscriptions
CIL III 10.394=ILS 3516; NS 1912, p. 313 = BullCom 1916, p. 204 = AE 1917–1918: 22, n. 94
Bonus Eventus
One of the oldest Roman personifications, Bonus Eventus („good event”) is listed (Varro, De re rustica 1.1. 4 -6.) as a divinity who presided over agriculture, paired with Lympha. Represented as a young, nude male in act of a libatio, he became a symbol of the imperial propaganda and security. It appears only on epigraphic sources in the Danubian provinces.
Inscriptions
AE 2012, 01134; AE 1905, 00236 = AE 1999, 01248; CIL 03, 14360,05; AE 2011, 00954; AE 1998, 1051; EpRom 2015_37_003; CIL 03, 06223 (p 1366) = ILBulg 00283; IScM-04, 00110 = AE 1974, 00570 = AE 1977, +00764; AE 1982, 00848 = AE 1991, +01371 = AE 2005, +01320; AE 2005, +01320; AE 1994, 01521 = AE 2005, +01320; AE 2005, +01320.
Bonus Puer
One of the celestial divinities from Edessa (under the name „Azisu”, meaning: the strong, fortis) is an Arabian god of the morning star who precedes the Sun. Bonus Puer might be identical with Azisos, however there is no consense on the identitification of the divinity. It is often named also as Phosphorus.
Inscriptions:
CIL 03, 01130 = IDR-03-05-01, 00300; CIL 03, 01131 = IDR-03-05-01, 00301; CIL 03, 01132 = IDR-03-05-01, 00303; CIL 03, 01133 = IDR-03-05-01, 00306; CIL 03, 01134; CIL 03, 01135 = IDR-03-05-01, 00304; CIL 03, 01136 = IDR-03-05-01, 00305; CIL 03, 01137 = IDR-03-05-01, 00302; CIL 03, 01138 = IDR-03-05-01, 00307; AE 1983, 00841; CIL 03, 07652.
Campestris
Despite its Latin name, the Campestres – appeared usually in plural – are a group of female Celtic divinities, protectors of the soldiers and of the military training field.
Inscriptions:
CIL 03, 05910; AEA 2004, 00067 = AEA 2007, +00114; AEA 2004, 00067 = AEA 2007, +00114; CIL 03, 11264; CIL 03, 14355,21 = RIU-02, 00381; CIL 03, 14355,22 = RIU-02, 00380; CIL 03, 03667.
Capricornus
Divine personification of the zodiac with the same name and often symbol of military units or imperial power. A favourite astronomic symbol and personification in the Augustan time.
Inscriptions:
Gerstl 00221 = AEA 1999/00, +00070
Casebonus
A local divinity from Moesia, probably associated with a locality or a pre-Roman religious community.
Inscription:
CIL 03, 08256: Sancto / Casebono / sacrum / pro salutem(!) / M(arci) Antoni Rufi / Felicissimus / lib(ertus)
Casuotanus
Local, Celtic divinity from Noricum, known only in few cases from the Alpine region.
Inscription:
ILLPRON 00645 = Leber 00140
Ceres
Ceres is the counterpart of the Greeks goddess Demeter. She became the protector of agriculture, crops but also of marriage and of the plebs. She appears with the kiste and cornocupia. The divinity is attested on figurative monuments in Dacia.
Inscriptions:
AE 2007, 01079; CIL 03, 03835; CSIR-Oe-Carn-S-01, 00244; RIU-01, 00219 = AE 1969/70, 00541; CIL 03, 03942; CIL 03, 08102; IMS-02, 00004; CIL 03, 12379 (p 2316,45) = CIL 03, 14207,39; EDCS-76100074; EDCS-60400094; IDR-02, 00196; AE 2010, 01364; EDCS-45100366; DR-03-03, 00292.
Castor
In the classical mythology, Castor and Pollux are represented as twin brothers, standing with horses, as their attribute. In many cases, they are represented as snakes. Castores appear also on epigraphical monuments, as acolytes of Dolichenus.
Inscriptions:
AE 2001, 01582; IDR-03-05-01, 00089 = AE 1991, 01342; IDR-02, 00143 = AE 1963, 00136; CIL 03, 01287 = IDR-03-03, 00291.
Caelestis
From the middle Imperial period, the title Caelestis, “Heavenly” or “Celestial” is attached to several goddesses embodying aspects of a single, supreme Heavenly Goddess. The Dea Caelestis was identified with the constellation Virgo (“The Virgin”), who holds the divine balance of justice. The divinity is usually associated with Tanit, Dea Syria or other important, female divinities.
Inscriptions:
CIL 03, 00992 = IDR-03-05-01, 00040; CIL 03, 00993 = IDR-03-05-01, 00041; IDR-03-05-01, 00038 = AE 1903, 00058; AE 1960, 00226; IDR-03-02, 00192 = AE 1930, 00139; AE 1993, 01345; CIL 03, 10407 (p 2277) = D 03109 = TitAq-01, 00083.
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