In a fresco found in 1920 at Dura-Europos, Julius Terentius, a tribune of the cohors XX Palmyrenorum, makes an offering on a thymiaterion to three cuirassed figures with nimbus. As has been definitively demonstrated in 2010 by Lucinda Dirven, these statues do not represent Roman emperors, but the Palmyrene gods Aglibol, Iarhibol and Arsu. To reinforce this conclusion, the author emphasizes that just at Dura the famous Feriale confirms the main rule of the imperial cult, when it is promoted by the ‘state’: no sacrifice may be offered to a living emperor, but only to his genius, whereas a real cult, inclusive of sacrifices, is allowed for the divi, as also testify the commentarii of the arval brethren and the wording of the oath in the Flavian municipal laws.
Il sacrificio del tribuno Terenzio. Una postilla sul culto imperiale a Dura-Europos
LETTA, CESARE
2013-01-01
Abstract
In a fresco found in 1920 at Dura-Europos, Julius Terentius, a tribune of the cohors XX Palmyrenorum, makes an offering on a thymiaterion to three cuirassed figures with nimbus. As has been definitively demonstrated in 2010 by Lucinda Dirven, these statues do not represent Roman emperors, but the Palmyrene gods Aglibol, Iarhibol and Arsu. To reinforce this conclusion, the author emphasizes that just at Dura the famous Feriale confirms the main rule of the imperial cult, when it is promoted by the ‘state’: no sacrifice may be offered to a living emperor, but only to his genius, whereas a real cult, inclusive of sacrifices, is allowed for the divi, as also testify the commentarii of the arval brethren and the wording of the oath in the Flavian municipal laws.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
