Vota solverunt libentes merito prilog izučavanju religije rimske vojske u Gornjoj Meziji

Abstract

Među pripadnicima gornjomezijskog garnizona koji su ispunjavali zavete bogovima najčešće su posvedočeni obični vojnici i principales. Analiza hijerarhije unutar jedinica ukazuje da su principales posvetili najveći broj spomenika. Oni su bili imućniji od običnih vojnika, jer su primali jednu i po ili dvostruko veću platu. Kao dedikanti votivnih spomenika posvedočeni su, u znatno manjem broju, oficiri i zapovednici jedinica iz viteškog odnosno senatorskog staleža. Jedan broj natpisa posvetile su čitave jedinice ili njihove veksilacije.

Soldiers stationed in Moesia Superior observed both the official religion of the roman army and private cults, worshipping Greek, oriental and indigenous deities. Examination of the military hierarchy indicates that the majority of votive monuments was set up by principales. Receiving a pay and a half or a double pay of ordinary soldeirs, they were wealthy enough to fulfill the vows given to various deities and seek their protection and favor. Tesserarii were sesquiplicarii; optiones and aquiliferi, as well as men serving in the officia of provincial governers and officers (beneficiarii consularis stratores consularis, speculatores, frumentarii, cornicularii) were duplarii. All these ranks are attested on votive insciptions from Moesia Superior. A number of altars was dedicated by centurions and senior officers or commanders of the equestrian and senatorial rank. Nassius Dexter held the post of praefectus castrorum or praefectus legionis in the IV Flavia legion during the second half of the second century A.D. (AE 2001, 1727). Four equestrians commanded auxiliary units. C. Atrius Decoratus (IMS III/2 8, 9 19) and M. Aurelius Quadratianus (IMS III/2 4) were tribunes of the cohort II Aurelia Dardanorum, which garrisoned the fort of Timacum Minus. Decoratus has dedicated three monuments - two to Mars Equitum, and one to an unknown deity. Two commanders of equestrian rank set up dedications in the mining district of Kosmaj. Cn. Clodius Classicianus commanded the cohort I Ulpia Pannoniorum (IMS I 97). The unit protected Kosmaj in the wake of the Marcomannic wars of Marcus Aurelius, presumably from 166/167 to 169 A.D. C. Gellius Exoratus praefectus of the cohort V Callaecorum Lucensium, dedicated an altar to Jupiter (IMS I 98). The reasons for his stay on Kosmaj are not easily explained. His unit might have protected the mines at the time of Trajan's Dacian campaigns. Aurelius Maximianus, a former prefect of the legion IV Flavia, also belonged to the officers of equestrian rank (IMS II 9). He is identified with the homonymous praeses of Numidia (290-293 A.D). M. Laelius Maximus, of senatoral rank, has dedicated an altar to Diana in Viminacium (IMS II 5). He commanded the legion VII Claudia ca. 195 A.D. He should be identified with the praetor M. Laelius Firminus Fulvius Maximus (end of the second century A.D). Epigraphic evidence from Moesia Superior testifies to whole units or their detachments dedicating votive monuments. This practice was fairly common throughout the Roman empire. All the altars and inscriptions of this group were set up by units stationed in Moesia Superior the legions IV Flavia and VII Claudia and the cohorts II Aurelia Dardanorum and I Cretum. Finally, one must mention Cilices contirones serving in the legion IV Flavia (IMS I 3). The fact that they dedicated an altar to Jupiter as a group implies that they kept their ethnic identity.