I am collecting lost places, like pebbles.
All places that retain the naming pattern of the goddes Ishtar. The African goddess that gave us the words “star” and “east”.
Here is another one. It happens to be, like all the others, associated with water, and high places. My family is from Croatia, and I discovered this one as I was trying to book a family vacation to visit my grandmother’s hometown. I noticed it was known for its healing hot springs, and decided to see where any others were.
Healing waters. The lost mother. Mar, Mary, none of it is a coincidence. My favorite is the earliest I can find, the Ishango region close to Lake Victoria, essentially the source of the Nile river.
Ist is the name for Isis, Ishtar, Aset, she of the rising son and queen of heaven, the holy mother. It means both “east” and “left”, as the main cardinal direction was looking toweards the source of the Nile River, which flows from the heart of Africa in the south, flowing north into the Mediterranean. This puts the direction of the rising sun to the “left”. This is the earliest known use of the term, but I am actively searching African databases for even earlier dates. Later, in Mesopotamia and Europe and Greece, we see her transformed into many goddesses, but first, and foremost, she was Aset, ISt, pronounced “eest”. She also leaves her namesake on the Germanic Easter that our Eastrer tradition was named after, when the Germanic term beat out the more popular Latin term of Pascha. In Jewish tradition, she leaves her mark on Astarte, Astorath, the woman in the bible blamed for everything, when really, the king lost territory to invaders, and wanted a reason to unite the people. The history is fascinating, and points us to the name Israel itself, the Northern and more prosperous and older Jewish city than that of the southern Judean kingdom. We find her name everywhere. And in Roman times, she became the Greek Isis, popular in the times when Jesus was meant to be walking the earth. He would have passed her magnificent temples, even those in Ephesus, rich in Turkish Herstory, and the supposed death place of Mary, but even elder than her, one of the ancient wonders of the world for the goddess temples. We cannot escape her. We cannot forget her.
Istarske Toplice, Croatia
The thermal waters at Istarske Toplice have been known for their healing properties since at least Roman times, evidenced by Roman coins and jewelry found at the site. All this tells me is this when the Romans took over an already famous location, not at all giving us a good “start” date.
A document from the 1600’s AD mentions local peasants using the waters to treat ailments like rheumatism and skin diseases.
Istria
Istria – the biggest Croatian peninsula in the shape of a heart on the north of the Adriatic, opposite Venice - away from its glossy and pretentious coastal resorts.
This town sits among a larger location of Istria, a region in Croatia, which must have been important enough to hold onto its “Ist” name.
The Istrian region, where Istarske Toplice is located, boasts a rich cultural heritage, including unique architectural styles, traditional music (Istrian scale), and folk dances like the Balun dance. Traditional fairs showcase local customs and crafts, providing insights into the area's rich history.
Over the last year, with the introduction of cheap flights to new emerging European countries, Istria has become a very popular destination for British tourists. Rovinj, Pula and Porec have become particularly popular with their crystal clear Adriatic beaches.
The spirit of this mythical land known for its tempestuous history marked by influences from the Venetian Republic and the Austro-Hungarian monarchy to its present position of a bridge between Croatia, Slovenia and Italy is hidden in its interior.
Water
Famous thermal waters at Istarske, documented by Romans (who were famous for usurping important sites and claiming them for their own).
Later empires trying to associate with the ancient prestige: During the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the spa was known as Terme Santo Stefano and attracted many people seeking treatment for various conditions, including rheumatic and dermatological problems.
In 1858, a detailed analysis confirmed the water's therapeutic qualities, establishing it as one of the best in the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.
the hot water used for treatments comes the spa’s St Stephan spring and contains thirteen different sorts of minerals, among them sulphur, good for treatment of chronic rheumatic, respiratory and dermatological diseases and physical aches.
After World War II, the resort became part of a medical center in Pula and later a tourist company.
Healing spring: According to local legend, the healing properties of the water were discovered after an innocent girl, wrongly accused, threw herself from the nearby 85-meter cliff, wishing for a healing spring to emerge at the point where she fell as proof of her innocence. The Spring of Sv. Stjepan, which supplies the mineral-rich waters, is located at the foot of this cliff.
Church of St. Stephen: A small church dedicated to St. Stephen stands atop the cliff, built in the 19th century on the site of an earlier church. A narrow path leads to the church, offering panoramic views of the Mirna River Valley.
Coins
Significant hoards of Roman coins have been uncovered throughout Croatia, including Istria, pointing to its role as a vital area within the Roman Empire. These include include bronze and silver coins, including denarii and folli.
250 AD: A large hoard of 27,735 silver-plated bronze coins dating to 200’s AD was found at Petrijanec near the city of Varaždin. Known as the Vinkovci Treasure in eastern Croatia consisted of 48 elaborately decorated silver artifacts.
Jewelry discovered in Istria includes gold, silver, bronze, bone, jet, and pearls, indicating a very important site.
Archaeological excavations have brought to light rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, some adorned with precious stones and intaglios.
The discovery of a grave site in Sv. Ivan Kornetski, near Umag, revealed the remains of a woman cremated with rich grave goods, including gold jewelry, indicating a high social status. (This would have been too strange as a Roman custom, indicating high status for all women, and rich lost herstory).
The grave, constructed in a specific way, was found in 2009 and contained the remains of a woman who was cremated, a common practice during that time, according to archaeological reports.
Rich sites:
sites like Nesactium and Sipar are popular as being Roman and early Christian sites, but really, they would be much older, claimed by those who held authority later.
Historical & Maritime Museum of Istria in Pula
The Museum of Hum AurA
Pula Arena, A Roman Ampitheater (for what??) olive oil pressing?
St Stephen of Istria
The church is located in the heart of Motovun, a charming hilltop town in Istria. it stands out for its exquisite frescoes, especially those discovered in the early 1900’s by Luka Kirac.
Luka Kirac was a Croatian Catholic priest, revivalist of Croatian nationalism and right-wing politician. Kirac was a defender of the rights of Croats and Slovenes in Istria, and played an important part in their struggle for their rights. Born 1860, died 1931 in RAkotule.
He emphasized the connection of Istrian Croats with the national motherland, and, as early as during his schooling, was "fascinated by the ideas of national revival and Starčević's orthodoxy.”
He was born in Medulin, into a peasant family. He was seen as bright, and sponsored. Church authorities moved him to places in southern Istria: to Krnica and Rakalj. There he became interested in the history of the Croats of his region. In addition to performing as a priest, during his time in Medulin Kirac also worked on developing national consciousness among the Istrian Croats. He expressed concern for the poor and sick who were dying all over Istria, who were not saved either in the villages or in hospitals, where they were treated inhumanely. (I already like him way more than the steven guy). He resented both the Austrian administration and the economically much stronger Istrian Italian citizens. (IE he resisted the Italian and Austrian overlords of Croatia, and their terrible treatment of the people, those considered rivals of Venitian trade, and the reason the Venise crusaders never set foot in Israel- they were plundering Croatian treasure. I read soemwhere italians burned Croatian forests to weaken then and their ability to make ships and prosper, but now I cannot find where I read that.
Immediately after the arrival of the Italian Army, the Italian authorities confined him as a suspicious person in Lipari and then in Sardinia (1919–21). He was then ordered to stay in Rakotule, which he was not allowed to leave, unless the police allowed him to do so. That was the last station of his activity as pastor. In Croatia, it is often recalled the event of 1921, when the locals organized themselves on the agreed bell sign from the bell tower of the church of St. Roko to oppose the fascist attempt to detain Kirac and burn his books. He was exposed to all kinds of fascist abuse. The fascists tried to kill him, his books were burned, and he was saved only by the common people who defended him. Fascist threats did not stop him from working.
Around 1925, he discovered wall paintings in the church of St. Nicholas in Rakotule.
Rakotule is the common name for a number of small villages.
Špinovci is the only hamlet which does not belong to the Parish of St. Roch but to the Parish of St. Vitalis. The centre of Parish is the St. Vitalis` Church, whose harmonious stone tower can be seen from the road as soon as we turn on the road to Rakotule. Rakotule is mentioned for the first time in the 13th century. The Italian name Racotole di Montona reveals the close relationship with the nearby Motovun, which can be seen from many points as though in the palm of your hand. The aristocratic families of Motovun had their estates at Rakotule.
The majority of the income was obtained from the woods on the slopes above the Krvar brook. Timber was transported on the Mirna River to the sea and from there to Venice where it was used to build ships of the mighty Venetian fleet which dominated the Adriatic Sea.
The Parish of Rakotule is mentioned for the first time in 1580 and the church was most probably built during that period. It was a period of frequent epidemics of plague and cholera in Istria and there is no wonder that the inhabitants of Rakotule chose St. Roch, invoked to protect from plague, as their patron saint. On the wall of the old Sacristy there is a niche decorated in relief and carrying the year 1560, which implies that the church is even older. Another confirmation of the old age is the still visible vault of the Romanesque apse. This original church was painted with frescoes, whose fragment was discovered during works in the church interior in 1958. It was detached together with a layer of plaster, transferred onto canvas and fixed. It is today kept in the Diocesan Museum in Poreč. Next to the church stands a 22-meter tall bell tower.
The church can be found at Pahovići (Konobari). It was built in the 12th century and extended various times over the later centuries. It is dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The rich estate owner Raguzzi from the neighbouring Vižinada (originating in Dubrovnik), who owned estates all around the church, had the church completely refurbished in 1770. Now an important annual festivity of Rakotule called Blaise, and is now celebrated in February, on the feast day of Blaise, when an exhibition of wine, honey and homemade bread is organised.
The current church was built between 1580 and 1614, with some suggesting it was designed by Venetian architect Andrea Palladio. It replaced an older church that may have been built on the foundations of an antique basilica.
The church is renowned for its well-preserved and beautiful frescoes, some of which were discovered by Luka Kirac, a historian who opposed Italian irredentism. These frescoes are considered some of the finest in Istria.
Why was he sainted? Per wiki, he was also known as St. Stephen the Protomartyr, became a saint because he was the first (first of what?) Christian martyr (ever??) dying for his faith by stoning.
St. Stephen was one of the first deacons in the early Christian Church in Jerusalem. He was known for his eloquent speeches. His outspokenness against the Jewish authorities led to his arrest and trial for blasphemy. During his trial, he delivered a powerful defense, essentially accusing the Jewish leaders of resisting the Holy Spirit. (what could he possibly have been saying?)
Ok, this is key. I see the Holy Spirit as the lost holy mother in the trinity of: the father, son and Holy spirit. Notice the father and son are not holy, only the spirit is? and in both greek and jewish languages, spirit is a feminine term. We can trace as the term became neutral, and even later masculine in some cases, but originally, she was always feminine.
In the name IsRaEl, we see a combination of a holy mother (isis, the eastern star and rising sun), the sun child (male of female, Ra, Ray, the sun god and noon day sun), and El, the canaanite father god, seen as the wise setting sun. This is a combo of terms that show the trinity in a single Term, Is-Ra-El, in perfect order and synchrony and poetry. And it was a term used before the formation of the Jewish state known today- which really only started forming around 1,000 BC based on history. the site of ISrael was a location of those who hid in the mountains, fought against egypt, and had its own rich history.
In important places like Ephesus, Turkey, known for later Mary assimilation, there is also a debate of the word “Amen”, the egyptian sun god, which is mentioned in contempt by Jesus or someone later, who call it THE Amen as a personal noun, indicating the power of a site with its own wealth, and ancient lost history. I seem to remember a group of people dying for a similar debate about interpretation of “this holy spirit/ghost”, aka, the lost mother.
Mary and Isis are indistinguishable in grave art in Rome for about 200 years. She came in as Isis, left as Mary.
St. Stephen's feast day is celebrated on December 26th, the day after Christmas, in many Christian traditions. In Croatia, it's a public holiday known as "Štefanje".
As HRT reports, in the small town of Štefanje near Bjelovar, it is a tradition to celebrate the names day of Stjepan, Stipan, Štefo, and Štefica with tamburitza music. The small town offers a reward of 2,000 kuna to families who preserve the name. (!!!!!!) “For years, we have been offering rewards to families naming their children.”
Little is known about Stephen’s early life. (easy to manipulate, or erased). After the death of Jesus, Stephen’s open preaching of Jesus’ teachings. His affiliation with the Christian disciples led to his condemnation for blasphemy and ultimately to death by stoning. That is an intersting way of writing that: “His affiliation with disciples led to his condemnation.”
All of this happened in Jerusalem. It is interesting Istria chose him, but maybe because he was the “first” and still interesting at the time.
There are several churches in the region of Istria (Croatia) named after Saint Stephen. One of the most notable is the Church of St. Stephen in Motovun. It's a beautiful and well-regarded church in a picturesque hilltop town.
Croatia was converted to christianity from 600 to 900 AD, several hundred years after the romans were minting coins there around 200’s AD. Initial contact with Christianity happened in the 600’s, but the process of formal conversion and the adoption of the Roman alphabet took place under the influence of Frankish (French) missionaries and papal authority in the 700’s and 800’s.
Croats, who had settled in the region around the 7th century, encountered Christian populations and began to interact with Christian missionaries, particularly those from the Roman church in Dalmatia.
The baptism of Croats is often considered to be around 879, signifying the country's alignment with the Western, Catholic Church.
Later, the adoption of the Glagolitic alphabet and the establishment of Christian institutions.
He died 36 AD, just 6 years after Jesus. There must have been tremendous confusion about what the “real faith” was at the time.
As the number of Christians grew, the apostles felt the need to appoint assistants, giving rise to the deacons. Stephen stood out among them as the most esteemed and energetic. (this is important- showing it was a time of change, and rapid, most likely forced, transitions to a new religion, and a connection to the old ways). I would not be suprised if the name had different origins, which I am still researching. Most of teh christian saints come from people of unknown origins, often associated with an even earlier deity from the region.
St. Stephen was a Jew who likely came to believe in Jesus during his ministry on earth. Stephen may have been among the 70 disciples sent out as missionaries by Christ, who traveled with no possessions. Some members of the local synagogues had him brought before their authorities, claiming he was trying to destroy their traditions.
The name Stephen is Greek, and chapter 6 of Acts of the Apostles tells us that he was a Hellenist (a foreign-born Jew who spoke Greek). He lived in Jerusalem and had become a Christian. The Hellenist converts, who probably formed a minority in the early Christian community, complained that the care of their elderly widows was neglected by the Hebrew-speaking majority. The Apostles presented the matter to the congregation and, pleading the press of responsibilities, instructed it to select seven deacons for this community service. They were chosen and ordained, and Stephen, who became the best known of the seven, was recognized as a man with special gifts as an evangelist.
Stephen engaged in religious discussions among the adherents of synagogues of Diaspora Jews in the capital. Growth in the number of Jewish converts, including “many of the priests,” provoked a reaction. He was summoned before the Sanhedrin, the supreme rabbinic court in Jerusalem, and charged with speaking against “this holy place and the law.” The charge is very general; the report of his defense before the Sanhedrin is the primary resource for learning what Stephen stood for.
Stephen’s response was Jewish in its concerns, and in form it followed Hellenistic rhetorical conventions (Joshua 24:2–14; Acts of the Apostles 3:12–26). Many scholars see a Samaritan connection to Stephen’s community, postulating that it may have migrated there when Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. (does this make sense if he died 36 AD?)
They assume that the speech may have been modified in its transmission through the years between its delivery and its incorporation in St. Luke’s text, which appears as Acts of the Apostles.
What Stephen seems to say about temple and law would not have displeased Samaritan ears.
Stephen was bitterly opposed to the Temple in Jerusalem and its sacrificial cult. He revered the Law of Moses but considered the temple cult an illegitimate part of it. For Stephen, Moses delivered “living oracles,” the true law. Stephen seems to think of Jesus as the “restorer of Mosaic religion.” In his discourse, he sets Aaron over against Moses, the Temple over against the tent, and Solomon, who built the Temple, over against David, who was persuaded not to. For Stephen, the building of the Temple was a bit of idolatry, comparable to Aaron’s golden calf: “the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands” (7:48).
Stephen’s feelings about the Temple seem to have been more completely negative than those of the first Christians generally; St. Paul, continued to frequent it.
Stephen spoke for an overwhelmingly Jewish, pre-Pauline Christian movement, the precise outlines of which are not easily recoverable, because they have been covered by layers of great change.
Stephen is mentioned in Acts 6 as one of the Greek-speaking Hellenistic Jews selected to administer the daily charitable distribution of food to the Greek-speaking widows. Another connection to women!!! And the Holy spirit.
The reason for the appointment of the deacons is stated to have been dissatisfaction among Hellenistic Jews that their widows were being slighted in preference to Hebrew ones in the daily distribution of food. Since the name Stephanos is Koine Greek, it has been assumed that he was one of these Hellenistic Jews. Stephen is stated to have been full of faith and the Holy Spirit and to have performed miracles among the people.
Stoning of Saint Stephen, altarpiece of San Giorgio Maggiore, Venice, by Jacopo & Domenico Tintoretto
It seems to have been among synagogues of Hellenistic Jews that he performed his teachings and "signs and wonders" since it is said that he aroused the opposition of the Synagogue of the Libertines, and "of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of them that were of Cilicia and Asia". Members of these synagogues had challenged Stephen's teachings, but Stephen had bested them in debate. Furious at this humiliation, they suborned false testimony that Stephen had preached blasphemy against Moses and God. They dragged him to appear before the Sanhedrin, the supreme legal court of Jewish elders, accusing him of preaching against the Second Temple and the Torah. Stephen is said to have been unperturbed, his face looking like "that of an angel".
In a long speech to the Sanhedrin comprising almost the whole of Acts 7, Stephen presents his view of the history of the Israelites. The God of glory, he says, appeared to Abraham in Mesopotamia, thus establishing at the beginning of the speech one of its major themes, that God does not dwell only in one particular building (meaning the Temple).[12] Stephen recounts the stories of the patriarchs in some depth and goes into even more detail in the case of Moses. God appeared to Moses in the burning bush,[13] and inspired Moses to lead his people out of Egypt. Nevertheless, the Israelites turned to other gods.[14] This establishes the second main theme of Stephen's speech, Israel's disobedience to God.[12] Stephen faced two accusations: that he had declared that Jesus would destroy the Temple in Jerusalem and that he had changed the customs of Moses. Pope Benedict XVI stated in 2012 that Stephen appealed to the Jewish scriptures to prove how the laws of Moses were not subverted by Jesus but were instead being fulfilled.[15] Stephen denounces his listeners[12] as "stiff-necked" people who, just as their ancestors had done, resist the Holy Spirit. "Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: who have received the law by the disposition of the angels, and have not kept it."
There are at least five places where Stephen's re-telling of the stories of Israelite history diverges from the scriptures where these stories originated; for example, Stephen says that Jacob's tomb was in Shechem,[27] but Genesis 50:13[28] says Jacob's body was carried and buried in a cave in Machpelah at Hebron.[22][12] Some theologians argue that these may not be discrepancies, but rather a condensing of historical events for people who were already familiar with them.[29] That Jacob's body was carried to a final resting place in Shechem is not recorded in Genesis, though it does not exclude the possibility that his bones were transferred to Shechem for a final burial place, as was done with the bones of Jacob's son Joseph, as described in Joshua 24:32 Other scholars consider these and other discrepancies as errors. Still others interpret them as deliberate choices making theological points.[26] Another possibility is that the discrepancies come from an ancient Jewish tradition which was not included in the scriptures or may have been popular among people of Jerusalem who were not scribes.[30]
Numerous parallels between the accounts of Stephen in Acts and the Jesus of the Gospels – they both perform miracles, they are both tried by the Sanhedrin, they both pray for forgiveness for their killers, for instance – have led to suspicions that the author of Acts has emphasised – in order to show the recipient that people become holy when they follow the example of Christ – or invented some (or all) of these.[18]
Some people have laid the charge of anti-Judaism against the speech, for instance the priest and scholar of comparative religion S. G. F. Brandon, who states: "The anti-Jewish polemic of this speech reflects the attitude of the author of Acts."[31]
His dedication and miracles, performed through the Holy Spirit, attracted the hatred of the old Jews due to the noble and bold manner in which he proclaimed the gospel on every occasion. One day, when he rebuked them for persecuting the prophets and killing Christ, they took him outside the city and stoned him. Stephen became the first martyr to shed blood for Christ. (okay okay, so he picked a fight with the Jews by calling them Christ killers… not so suprising he caused a fight…). But also, was he really the first martyr for for Christ? When I look that up, i find it may be so:
Stephen was one of the seven men chosen to serve the needs of the early Christian community, freeing up the elders to focus on prayer and teaching.
Accusations: Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, and accused of speaking against the Temple and the Law.
Defense and Condemnation: In his defense, Stephen delivered a long speech recounting Jewish history and ultimately accusing his accusers of rejecting the Holy Spirit and persecuting the prophets, and of killing Jesus.
In the biblical account of St. Stephen's martyrdom in Acts 7, he was full of the Holy Spirit. He accused his audience of resisting the Holy Spirit, being stiff-necked, and betraying the "Righteous One" (Jesus). But wait, why is Jesus in parenthesis? Could that Righteous one be her, the mother?
The words son and sun are conflated and confused on purpose, and I argue elsewhere that they formed in perfect timing to show an intentional association. As in egyptian times, where judaism and christianity formed, the sun WAS the son, but also was the daughter. The child of the Pharaohs (man and woman, gender neutral) was an incarnate sun. Daughters were equally beloved. Also the women were holy innately, due to their ability to create life. While men had to be initiated. Later, patriarchic norms made this look like only men were allowed in power, but really, it meant women were innately holy.
Acts 7:55 describes Stephen as "full of the Holy Ghost," indicating a profound spiritual empowerment. To me, I can argue he is arguing for the mother. Stephen directly accuses his listeners of resisting the Holy Spirit.
Mary, and Mer: Water, and the Mother
Mary is one of the oldest known names in Egyptian pharonic history. The word simply meant, beloved. And has been used continuously since around 3k BC through to being such a popular name in Roman times that it was literally half of all women’s names, in both Jewish and Roman societies. And she later gave her name to literally meaning water itself.
A Church of St. Stephen is located atop a cliff, offering panoramic views of the Mirna River Valley in the Istrian Peninsula. The River named Mirna, after Mary, is another clue of the female significance.
The only thing left to link us is from Croatian to Egyptian societies. Being both along the Mediterranean should leave us enough of a clue. But also, we know the first major peace treaty was between Egyptian and Hittite (Ancient Anatolian/Turkish) Kingdoms, with marriages and much history. They would have had generations of blending. Then we see a major link mentioned by Herodotus and others of Lydia (Turkey) through Ephesus, and into Etruscan society, to Italy and into the Croatian Italian conflicts. Etruscans are heavily related to the Liburni of Croatia of the Illyrians.
So we have the Mirna River Valley in the Istrian Peninsula. Two ladies of the waterways. Every waterway pretty much connecting to a goddess throughout the known world. The church was built on the foundations of earlier churches, of unknown antiquity. It would have been a beloved spot into time immemorial: panoramic views of the Mirna River Valley. It's considered a must-see for tourists visiting the region, known for its serene ambiance and picturesque surroundings.
The Vila Kastrum was built a long time ago, in the period of Byzantine empire, at the island Veli Brijun, built in the 100 years before Christ.
The site was beloved by the rich and famous of Venice and Rome. The amphitheater was built in the 1st century AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, and it is one of the best preserved amphitheatres in the world. It was built at the same time as the Colosseum in Rome.During the summer, many world-renowned musicians perform in the Arena turning it into probably the most beautiful stage in the world. The town of Rovinj is considered the pearl of the Adriatic Sea.
The Vinkovci Treasure was discovered near Zagreb, among the mountains, thought to date to around 375 AD. It was found in 2012 while building a new road. 80 lb of silver tableware were found, in what appears to have been a storage pit. They had been carefully placed within a large pottery bowl. The hoard was deposited during a turbulent period in Roman history. At the time Vinkovci, which was a Roman colony called Colonia Aurelia Cibalae, was one of the leading towns in the province of Pannonia Secunda on the eastern border of the Roman Empire. It was the birthplace of two 4th century emperors, Valentinian I and Valens. The hoard is thought to have been buried due to an increase of insecurity in the region, perhaps due to civil unrest, political turmoil or a barbarian incursion.
They are now at the City Museum in Vinkovci.
Balkan Celts
The Celtic Horse Goddess Epona on Roman Silver
28,000 silver-plated bronze coins discovered in 2005 in Petrijanec, northern Croatia, the third largest collection of Roman coins in the world. They date back to 294 AD.
The collection included 3 silver plates, one which was decorated with an image of the Celtic Horse Goddess Epona.
dedications and images of Epona indicate her immense popularity within the Celtic world, being venerated particularly in the east of Gaul and the Rhineland, but also across the continent from Britain to the Balkans. She started in the Celtic groups, then as the Roman Empire expanded, she became immensely popular, and was connected with all things horses. The woman’s pose makes it apparent that the horse has the function of a throne, which is a frequent motif in depictions of the Celtic Horse Goddess. The horse is smaller than the woman, which is a consequence of iconographic perspective, typical of depictions of goddesses.
The closest analogy to the Epona plate from Petrijanec is to be found in silver dishware from Rudnik, in Serbia, where a Roman treasure with 26 silver dishes included a similar plate bearing the inscription EPONA.
Her name is etymologically related to a Celtic word for horse, and possibly, the word Pony.
The name of the goddess derives from the Proto-Celtic *ekWo- ‘horse’, Gaulish Epos – ‘Horse’. Gaulish Equos – ‘name of the ninth month’ (Coligny) may be an archaic form (with preserved qu < *kw). The Brit. forms (except OBret. eb) are from a derivative *ekwalo-.
The element is common in Celtic names such as Epacus, Epasius, Eppius, Eppia, Επηνοσ (Epenos), Epomeduos, Eporedorix, and the names of tribes such as the Επίδιοι (Epidii) in Scotland, or in placenames such as Epomanduodurum in France (Delmarre pp. 163-164 and pp. 355-389), while Indo- European cognates of Gaulish epo- are frequent in PN’s over a wide area.
It should be noted, however, that the supposed autonomy of Celtic civilization in Gaul suffered a major setback with Fernand Benoit’s study of the funereal symbolism of the horseman with the serpent-tailed (“anguiforme”) daemon, which he established as a theme of victory over death, and Epona; both he found to be late manifestations of Mediterranean-influenced symbolism, which had reached Gaul through contacts with the east (Benoît 1950). I find this interesting, as snakes and demons also bring us back to women being demonized for others to gain power.
Unusually for a Celtic deity, most of whom were associated with specific localities, the worship of Epona was everywhere, and deep within Rome from 50 to 300 AD. (this brings us back to Easter who was possibly a local deity, but preserved in a month’s name and never forgotten).
the name Epona is Celtic, no inscriptions to the goddess have been found in the Celtic languages, as the custom of setting up dedications was introduced by the Romans. The most northerly Epona inscription comes from Auchendavy (Strathkelvin District, Strathclyde Region) in Scotland.
The earliest evidence for the worship of Epona in Thrace comes from a small inscribed cult relief, discovered in the Sofia area of western Bulgaria. Dated to the late 4th/ 3rd c. BC, the carved ‘Scordus’ stone illustrates well the religious beliefs of the Celtic Scordisci who obviously worshiped Epona, the tribal ancestor-god and the warrior hero. Thrace had many warrior women, and the area we get the name for nightmare, a mare, and a female riding a horse that brings scary dreams because she is so dreadful.
Epona was known as a deity of fertility and prosperity but she was also associated with beliefs relevant to death and the underworld. The other side of the carved stone shows a man in a fight to the death with an enormous snake.
The survival and popularity of the cult of the Celtic horse goddess in Thrace in the Roman period is testified to by a number of inscriptions and depictions of Epona during this period, in Bulgaria, Moesia, and Thrace.
A lead cult plaque from Thrace (2/3 century) depicting Epona and the ‘Danubian Horsemen’ – a magnificent example of the synthesis of Thracian and Celtic religious beliefs during the Roman period. She continued to be popular in both northern and southern Thrace even after the Roman conquest, the influence of Celtic legions of the Roman army being instrumental in this phenomenon.