ANMERKUNG ÜBER DIE JAPODISCHEN URNEN UND SARKOPHAGE

U Prozoru u Lici, na japodskom području, otkriven je sarkofag bez poklopca Tita Flavija Marcela, po zanimanju trgovca mirisima, koji je po svome obliku vrlo zanimljiv. Posebna karakteristika toga sarkofaga su kutni istaci koji su zapravo neka vrsta trakastih pilastara. Najbliže paralele ne javljaju se na dalmatinskim sarkofazima, nego na japodskim urnama koje se izrađuju još od 6.-5. st. prije Kr. pa do 1.-2. st. nakon Kr. To bi upućivalo da je ovaj primjerak nastao prije početka serijske izradbe sarkofaga, a analiza epigrafskih elemenata pokazuje da je on nastao prije godine 140. nakon Kr. To što se jedan sarkofag koji služi kao spomenik za inhumaciju pokojnika, pojavljuje u isto doba kao i urne u koje se polaže pepeo spaljenih pokojnika, samo je potvrda već zapažene činjenice da Japodi prakticiraju oba ritusa (incineracija i inhumacija).A very interesting sarcophagus of a certain Titus Flavius Marcellus, who was a seplasiarius – a merchant of perfume, was discovered at Prozor in Lika (Croatia) more than one hundred years ago (fig. 1). The sarcophagus is only decorated on the front side. The tabella ansata was placed in the centre of the sarcophagus’s body. It contained the following inscription: D(is) M(anibus) / T(itus) Fl(avius) Marcellus / seplasiarius An(nos) LXX / S(ibi) V(ivus) F(ecit). The epitaph shows characteristics of the early 2nd century AD. This period is suggested by the lapidary style of the inscription, the appearance of the formula D.M. and abbreviation S.V.P. that only appears on early forms of funerary monuments. But, also the nomenclature of the sarcophagus’s owner is very significant and reveals that Marcellus acquired Roman citizenship during the Flavian period. It is very likely that he was born between 40 and 70AD. Bearing in mind the fact that Marcellus lived for 70 years, the sarcophagus must have been made before the end of Hadrian\u27s reign. The form of the chest is also very characteristic. Besides the central tabella ansata, it also displays vertical stripes on the sides of the front. These stripes are in fact the angular pilasters, which were decorated with vertically placed dolphins. Such elements do not exist on early Dalmatian sarcophagi from the 2nd century AD. Tabella ansata on such sarcophagi became the standard element only with mass production, which began in the 3rd century. However, the closest parallels are the urns in the Lika region (inhabited by the Illyrian people - the Iapodes). These urns were used during the long period from the 6th century BC (figs 1 and 4) until the 3rd century AD (figs 2 and 5). Marcellus’s sarcophagus was a product of Iapodian workshops in the period before the appearance of the series of Roman sarcophagi. The Marcellus sarcophagus is a kind of continuation of the Iapodian urn production (see development fig. 6). It may seem unusual that urns and sarcophagi appear in the same region and at the same time. But, it is quite normal, since the Iapodes practiced cremation and burial customs in parallel. Accordingly, the urns and sarcophagi were luxurious forms of funerary monuments for different burial rites.In Prozor, in der Lika, auf dem japodischen Gebiet, wurde ein nach seiner Forme sehr interessanter Sarkophag entdeckt, der einem Seplasiarius (Parfümshändler) Namens Titus Flavius Marcelus gehörte. Besondere Charakteristik dieses Sarkophags sind Eckvorsprünge, die eine Art bandförmige Pilaster darstellen. Nähere Parallelen sind nicht bei dalmatinischen Sarkophagen zu finden, sondern bei japodischen Urnen, die schon vom 5./6. Jahrhundert vor Chr. bis zum 1./2. Jahrhundert nach Chr. hergestellt wurden. Das könnte auf die Tatsache hinweisen, dass dieses Exemplar vor der Serie der Herstellungen von den Sarkophagen entstanden sei, und die Analyse der epigraphischen Elemente zeigt, dass dieser Sarkophag vor dem Jahr 140 nach Chr. entstanden sei. Dieser Fall bestätigt die Tatsache, dass die Japoden Inzinerationen und Inhumationen ausübten. Nämlich, die Tatsache, dass ein Sarkophag, der zur Inhumation des Verstorbenen diente, zur gleichen Zeit wie Ascheurnen erscheint, bestätigt schon früher Bemerktes, dass bei den Japoden beide Ritten, Inzineration und Inhumation, stattgefunden hatten