Early Christian luxurious glass finds in Serbia

Abstract

The period of Late Antiquity was a prosperous age in the history of provinces that existed in the territory of the modern Republic of Serbia (Pannonia Secunda, Moesia Prima, Dacia Ripensis, Dacia Meditteraneaand Dardania). This prosperous period is embedded in the fact that several Roman emperors were born here who left significant influence in their birthplaces in construction activities including economy and other measures: Sirmium (Sremska Mitrovica) was one of the capitals in the Roman Empire, Romuliana (Gamzigrad), Šarkamen, and Naissus (Niš). The best way to track the Christianisation of the late antique cities in Serbia is with artefacts of the 4th and first half of the 5th centuries. During this period of prosperity luxurious glass vessels tell a story about the needs and tastes of the inhabitants in the Roman cities. The vessels were done in techniques of mosaic, fondi d`oro or with relief figural presentations or inscriptions. It was mostly discovered in the grave units or within settlement`s layers, as well as within the church buildings in the larger or small settlements: Sirmium, Kruševlje, Singidunum (Belgrade), Bor vicinity, Campsa (Ravna), Diana (Karataš), Aquae (Prahovo) and Mediana (Brzi Brod, Niš). Workshops for the manufacture of glass tableware from late antiquity have been discovered until present in Sirmium, Mediana near Naissus, as well as several sites close to the mine centres, however, it is possible that these supplied local and regional inhabitants. Luxurious vessels with Christian symbols or from a Christian context, especially those done by mosaic glass, could reach these areas by trade roads or as some present or moving.