The cult of the god Mars on the territory of Serbia

Abstract

On the Serbian territory, a total of 11 votive monuments dedicated to the god Mars have been noted to date. Of these, seven monuments belong to the independent cult of the god Mars. In contrast, the remaining four belong to this cult’s symbioses with imperial or other deities’ cults. Two votive monuments have been preserved at the Ravna location. It is there that the god Mars is presented in a cult symbiosis with the imperial cult in two votive monuments - one with Jupiter, and the other with the Capitoline triad, Fortuna, and other gods and goddesses. There are a total of five monuments dedicated to Mars in Central Serbia and six in Vojvodina. The six monuments in Vojvodina originate from the area of Sremska Mitrovica. As for Central Serbia, four monuments originate from the Ravna location, and one from the Kaliste (Viminacium) location. A monument dated within the period 208-211 A.D., and originating from Ravna, confirms that a temple dedicated to the god Mars was located in this area. Other monuments may be dated within a broader historical period, from the second half of the 2nd century to the beginning of the 3rd century.