Zalaegerszeg, 2002

ZALAI MÚZEUM 11 2002 Migotti, Branka Early Christianity in Aquae Iasae (Varazdinske Toplice) and Iovia (Ludbreg) in Pannónia Savia 1. Introduction the same amount of various sorts of material belongs to the category of uncertain finds, whose exact determina Northern Croatia encompasses the most of the sou tion would depend on the context, which in the majori thern portion of the Roman province Pannónia, that is, ty of cases is missing. Such a ratio clearly points out to the whole of Pannónia Savia and roughly two thirds of an urgent need for archaeological investigation into the Pannónia Secunda. This area borders with Noricum early Christian horizon in northern Croatia.1 Signifi (present-day Slovenia) on the west, with two Pannoni- cantly, the majority of small finds stem from Sisak, a as: Prima and Valeria (present-day Hungary) on the Roman town sadly neglected in terms of systematic north and with Dalmatia (present-day central Croatia archaeological research. Had the contrary been the and Bosnia & Herzegovina) on the south. (Fig. 1) case, this town would have inevitably yielded a whole Both the early Christian material finds and the state wealth of small artefacts in addition to Christian archi of relevant scholarship in the bordering countries are tecture. much more advanced in comparison with northern Cro In short, the picture of the early Christianity of nor atia. Consequently, an abundance of early Christian thern Croatia figures as dull and unexpectedly poor in architecture and small finds are characteristic of the late material record, while this area emerges as a sort of an Roman horizon in Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia, central early Christian archaeological desert surrounded with and southern Croatia and northern Serbia. Northern the provinces much richer in finds. The question inevit Croatia, on the contrary, offers quite a different picture. ably arises of why this should be so. In other words, is According to my investigation and insight, only 18 it a true picture or just an accident of archaeology? If securely or potentially early Christian sites have been true, such a state of matters requires an explanation. recorded so far, of which only 8 are undeniably early The assumption of south Pannónia (its easternmost Christian in terms of material record. (Fig. 2) First section with Sirmium excluded) lacking in early Chri come three bishoprics: Siscia/Sisak (11), Mursa/Osijek stian finds should first be verified against the back (8) and Cibalae/Vinkovci (17). Iovia/Ludbreg is not ground of historical record. Most significant and included among them, because the identity of the place instructive in this respect is comparison with the nor is still disputed and no secure early Christian finds have thern part of the province, i. е., the area of present-day Hun been recovered there (this issue will be addressed later gary. Dr. Gaspár's book on early Christianity in Hungary, in the text). A further 5 sites are undoubtedly Christian: completed several years ago and eagerly waited for, is Aquae Iasae/Varazdinske Toplice (15), the most impor long overdue. Consequently, I am not acquainted tant of all in terms of archaeological evidence, i. е., the enough with the state of early Christian scholarship in only to have yielded early Christian architecture; Ozalj Hungary, especially in the light of the fact that a few (9), probably a hilltop fortified settlement with a church architectural complexes, initially determined as early and therefore akin to a large group of sites in the Alpi Christian, have subsequently been discarded as such.2 ne and sub-Alpine region of neighbouring Slovenia; Despite such drawbacks, resulting in limitations of Strbinci, most probably Roman Certissia (14), with an knowledge and hesitances in interpretation, it is more abundance of early Christian grave finds; Veliki Basta- or less true that the early Christian horizon in northern ji (16) near Daruvar (Aquae Balissae) and Zagreb (18). Pannónia is far richer in finds than its southern section. The remaining 10 sites have yielded small finds with But, is such a state of matters justified by the logic of only probable or even merely possible early Christian historical considerations? Not likely. significance. Altogether, of the indisputable material First of all, the province of Pannónia is a natural, evidence of early Christianity in northern Croatia only geographic, geopolitical, historical and cultural whole one church has come to light - an adapted building at with similar conditions for development throughout Aquae Iasae, in addition to some 12 grave monuments history, antiquity included. During all of the Roman and around 30 small objects. On the other side, nearly period the teritorry between the Sava and Drava had 52 Migotti, Branka been an essential part of Pannónia: with the exception status. It was predominantly a therapeutic and religious of its westernmost Hungarian section along the so-cal settlement, developed around and focused upon thermal led amber route, southern Pannónia was exposed to the baths, with also an outstanding role as a traffic and processes of Romanization and subsequent urbaniza trade centre.7 It has produced a considerable number of tion earlier than its northern portion, meeting thus the dedicatory and votive inscriptions to various gods and prime condition for the spread of Christianity.3 It divinities dating from the lst-4th centuries. Unfortuna should also be borne in mind that the southern section tely, the cemeteries of the town have neither been of the province was in later periods less afflicted by explored nor even located, nor has any inscribed barbarian incursions, offering thus more favourable funerary stone come to light to furnish additional data living conditions.4 Although the majority of written on the prosopography of the place. Consequently, all of documents on the southern-Pannonian clergy, martyrs the recovered epigraphic evidence belongs to the itine and church communities relates to Sirmium, still a con rant visitors who came to Aquae lasae in search of siderable number of them bears also on the Croatian health and pleasure, and who, irrespectibly of their part of Pannónia. On the other hand, documents con number and share in the whole of the population, were cerning the Hungarian portion of Pannónia are quite undoubtedly the most outstanding class of inhabitants. insignificant.5 Although the silence about north-Panno- According to the epigraphic evidence the share of nian Christian communities and martyrs should be Orientals among the visitors of Aquae lasae was ascribed to an accident of ancient history and archaeo neglectable, while no Jews are attested either. The logy, the prevalence of the documentary evidence for majority of the visitors, belonging mostly to various the Croatian section of Pannónia still remains surprisin strata of the military and civil administration, origina gly significant; surprisingly as measured against a ted in the western provinces.8 At first glance such an background of paucity of archaeological record. Para ethnic composition does not appear particularly favou doxically, the whole of Hungary (and not only its ear rable for the spread of Christianity, at least not if vie lier Romanized western stretch) abounds in early Chri wed in the light of an axiom of early Christian archae stian archaeological monuments and finds, while in ology, that namely Orientals and Jews were those who northern Croatia they are tenuous and markedly dispro most readily introduced Christian ideas throughout the portionate in relation to the written source material. On Empire and acted as nuclei of Christian communities in the other hand, however meagre the material, it is quite larger settlements. What circumstances, then, could variegated and curious in many ways, while some of have induced and supported the appearance of Christi the finds are unique or even spectacular; they obvious anity at Aquae lasae? They should probably be looked ly could not have sprung from an early Christian for in the cosmopolitan air of the spa and the nature of "archaeological desert".6 its architecure, adaptable through both its shape and To sum up: all the enumerated features of early Chri usage for remodelling into a church.9 Also not to be stianity in northern Croatia tend to defy the assumption underestimated in this respect is the vicinity of Poeto- of the virtual archaeological poverty of the early Chri vio, which might even have been connected with Aquae stian horizon in the Croatian portion of southern Pan lasae administratively, at least till the beginning of the nónia. The only plausible explanation therefore lies in 4th century. The Christian bishopric organized there in the state of inadequate research in northern Croatia, the second half of the 3rd century at the latest could not particularly as concernes the late antique and early have failed to exert some influence on the spread of Christian periods. Christianity in the neighbouring thermal baths, particu larly in the light of many inscriptions left in Aquae Iase 2. Aquae lasae (Varazdinske Toplice) by individuals from Poetovio or the Poetovian commu nity in earlier centuries.10 My choice of considering Aquae lasae and lovia in If a cosmopolitan area was an introductive back conjunction has been provoked by several reasons. ground to Iasean Christianity in broad terms, the cult of First, both of them have yielded architecture (although the Unconquered Sun can tentatively be comprehended that in Ludbreg is only putative), which is a rarity in as its immediate predecessor there, possibly backed by northern Croatia. Second, both these sites are still pro an imperial (Constantinian) favour. This, of course, is blematic as concernes evaluation of early Christian only a vague hypothesis which needs to be more amply finds. And last, during late antiquity Aquae lasae and substantiated; so far it rests on only one monument, a lovia appear to have become interrelated in terms of marble votive inscription to Sol (Fig.

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