Roman Religion and Cults in Epidaurum

Rimska kolonija Epidaur (današnji Cavtat) slabo je arheološki istražena, pa je to glavni problem u proučavanju bilo kojeg aspekta rimskog života na području današnjeg Dubrovnika. Međutim, zahvaljujući epigrafskoj građi, materijalnim ostacima, stanovitoj tradiciji i indikacijama, moguće je nešto kazati o rimskoj religiji i kultovima u Epidauru u vremenu rimske dominacije našom obalom. Dosada smo uspjeli izdvojiti sljedeća božanstva i kultove: Jupitera, Minervu, Dijanu, Asklepija, carski kult i Mitru. Jupiter, Dijana i nepoznato božanstvo su potvrđeni natpisom. Štovanje Minerve je dosada potvrđeno samo kao privatno u vidu brončane statue. O Asklepijevom kultu govori tradicija i analogije s Naronom, a tri geme s njegovim likom svakako ne mogu biti dovoljan dokaz o javnom štovanju toga kulta. Carski kult je također dokazan s dva natpisa, a posredno i počasnim natpisom Dolabele. Mitra je zasada najbolje poznato i potvrđeno božanstvo na području Cavtata, ali još nije pronađen nijedan natpis koji bi ga spominjao. Kako tek trebaju uslijediti nova arheološka istraživanja, ali i završiti sa započetima na području Cavtata i okolice, popis štovanih božanstava i kultova će zasigurno biti veći, a naše spoznaje bit će mnogo bolje argumentirane. Jasno je vidljiva rasprostranjenost spomenutih kultova i božanstava na širem području nekadašnje kolonije Epidaur što može poslužiti i kao dobar pokazatelj romanizacije dubrovačkog kraja.The Roman colony of Epidaurum (modern-day Cavtat) has been poorly excavated, which represents the main problem in a study of any aspect of Roman life in the area of present-day Dubrovnik. however, thanks to epigraphic holdings, material remains, certain traditions and other indicators, it is possible to say something about Roman religion and cults in Epidaurum in the period of Roman rule over the Croatian coastal region. So far, we have succeeded in identifying the following worshipped deities and cults: Jupiter, Minerva, Diana, Aesculapius, the imperial cult and Mithra. Jupiter, Diana and an unknown deity have been confirmed by an inscription, while the worship of Minerva has been confirmed only in private in the form of a bronze statue. The cult of Aesculapius is suggested by tradition and analogies with Narona, though three decorative pieces with his figure on them cannot be considered sufficient proof of public worship of the cult. The imperial cult has also been confirmed by two inscriptions, and also indirectly by the testimony of the Dolabela inscription. Mithra is the most well-known and confirmed deity in the Cavtat area. however, no inscriptions have been found bearing his name. As new archaeological excavations are still to follow, and the ones that have commenced have not been completed yet, the list of worshipped deities and cults in the area of Cavtat and its surroundings will certainly be longer, and our insights much better supported. There is a clear distribution of the abovementioned cults and deities in the wider area of the former colony of Epidaurum, which serves as a good indicator of the Romanisation of the Dubrovnik region