The cult of Jupiter Dolichenus in Moesia Superior: mining aspects

The cult of Jupiter Dolichenus, of Oriental origin, is evident throughout almost all the territory of the Roman Empire. The followers of the Dolichenus theology, such as soldiers, priests, tradesmen, miners and freedmen dedicated figurative representations as well as numerous inscriptions to the glory of the deity. In the territory of Upper Moesia, a particular frequency of dedications is noticed along the Danube border region/limes. In this study I shall deal with a somewhat particular type of Dolichenus believers, namely those who had a direct or indirect connection with the mining areas of Upper Moesia

Pre-roman and Roman Dardania historical and geographical considerations

This paper on Pre-Roman and Roman Dardania is an attempt to review, in a somewhat restricted article form, several important issues marking the development of the Dardanian areas in a period between the earliest references to the Dardani in written sources and their inclusion in the administrative structure of the Roman Empire. Historical developments preceding the Roman conquest of Dardania are analyzed, as well as its boundaries, and the character and administrative structure of the conquered territory. Changes that Dardanian society underwent are paid special attention, and phases in the development of urban centres and communications outlined

Locating the timacum maius station on the roman road lissus-naissus-ratiaria: New archaeological research

As the exact location of two Timacum stations remains an open issue, the results of the latest archaeological investigations in the environs of Svrljig, southeast Serbia, seem to offer some corroborative evidence for the hypothesis proposed in our previous contribution that this might be the location of Roman Timacum Maius. A small-scale trial excavation was undertaken on the Roman site at Kalnica in the Niševac village area in July 2008. A trench 4 by 2m was opened in the zone of the site that had yielded plentiful fragments of building debris as well as small finds. A massive wall over 1m thick was found immediately beneath the surface. Built of bro­ken limestone and pebbles bound with lime mortar, it obviously was part of a larger structure. To the northeast of the wall was an area covered with fragmented roof tiles. The discovery of two ceramic tumuli embedded in the wall, indicating a wall-heating system so far unregistered on the representative Roman urban and settlement sites in Serbia, gives additional grounds to presume that this was a larger Roman settlement extending over an area of more than 5ha, possibly Timacum Maius, a station on the Roman road Lissus-Ratiaria-Naissus

The Roman Station Timacum Maius (?): Evidence of Urbanization and Communications

The 2009 archaeological campaign at Niševac, eastern Serbia, has provided important evidence for the urban growth of a Roman settlement, such as drains and a section of the Roman road traversing the settlement. Along with a sumptuous structure furnished with a wall heating system discovered in 2008, the latest excavation results provide clues as to the importance of the settlement which, containing all elements of Roman urban architecture, offers further corroboration to its presumed identification as the Roman station of Timacum Maius on the Lissus-Naissus-Ratiaria road

The First Cohort of Cretans, a Roman Military Unit at Timacum Maius

Archaeological investigations on the site of Niševac (Timacum Maius) have been conducted over a period of eight successive years by the Institute for Balkan Studies in collaboration with the Centre for Tourism, Culture and Sports of Svrljig and the French Bordeaux-based Ausonius Institute. The 2014 campaign came up with nine Roman bricks stamped with inscriptions of the First Cohort of Cretans (Cohors I Cretum) built into the walls of a Roman bath. The inscriptions provide evi­dence for the character, chronology and history of the Roman settlement

Newly-discovered traces of the Roman Naissus-Ratiaria road and the problem of locating two Timacum stations

The goal of this paper is to reopen the question of and propose a solution to the as yet unresolved problem of the exact location of the Timacum stations on the Naissus-Ratiaria itinerary road. Based on plentiful material evidence it seeks to draw a more reliable picture of the Roman itinerary road and its newly-discovered traces. Also, it points to the possibility of a completely new interpretation of the itinerary sources relating to this issue. The method adopted here relies on the data contained in the Roman itineraries as well as on the archaeological and epigraphic evidence

The Roman Roads Between Upper Moesia and Thrace: Archaeological and Epigraphic Evidence

The paper focuses on a little-known Roman vicinal communication that connected the River Timok region in Upper Moesia with the Roman town of Pautalia in the province of Thrace. In Roman times the most important feature of both of these two regions was mining activity. This road that connected two mining centres was most likely to have been used for the transport of ore. Although it is not mentioned in the extant Roman itineraries, it was certainly an important compendium between two Roman centres and was marked by milestones. This paper also reconsider

Epigraphic and Archaeological Evidence Contributing to Identifying the Location and Character of Timacum Maius

Systematic archaeological excavation in the area of the village of Niševac near Svrljig, southeast Serbia, of a Roman settlement site, possibly Timacum Maius station on the main Roman road Lissus-Naissus-Ratiaria connecting the Adriatic and the Danube, has been going on for five years. Epigraphic and etymological analysis of an inscription dedicated to Hera Sonketene (dat. Hρα Σονκητηνη) provides evidence for the possible balneological character of the entire area of Timacum Maius, which was geomorphologically similar to and connected by a road network with the Thracian region of Denteletika centred on Pautalia, where the dedicant, Tiberius Claudius Theopompus served as strategos. The archaeological evidence complements the conclusions suggested by the epigraphic material. The recently discovered secondcentury Roman structure furnished with a hypocaust system using perforated circular- sectioned pebble-filled ceramic tubuli for heating the floors and outer walls of the building may have served a balneal purpose. A sizeable Roman bathhouse, with remains of two pools and two rooms with a hypocaust and ceramic tubuli, has also been partially explored. In the broader area of Svrljig Valley (near the village of Prekonoga), a luxurious Roman villa with a marble hexagon, numerous rooms and a bath, recently subjected to a rescue excavation, has been completely cleared and recorded. The first geophysical survey on the Timacum Maius site has also been undertaken

Energetski efikasno napajanje autonomnih potrošača korišćenjem hibridnog (fotonaponskog i dizelagregatskog) izvora

The energy efficient solution of autonomous power supply of consumers during the year, by using of a hybrid (photovoltaic and diesel aggregates) sources in the monastery Chilandar is presented in this paper. In details optimal load of diesel aggregate is discussed with a minimum consumption of fossil fuels. The results of the one year exploitation of the electricity generated from photovoltaic panels in our conditions are presented as well. Taking into consideration the specific location and importance of the monastery, the current and future needs of the monastery and particular way of life of the monks, the new hybrid system for the daily consumption of 400 kWh of energy and peak load of 80 kW has been designed and explained. It is based on the combined use of the three diesel power generators 2 x 40 kW and 80 kW, photovoltaic rated power 75 kW and battery pack for energy storage of 400 kWh. The primary objective of the new system is to reduce the consumption of diesel fuel and operating costs for the system power consumption.U ovom radu je opisano energetski efikasno rešenje autonomnog napajanja potrošača tokom godine, korišćenjem hibridnog (solarne i dizel agregata) izvora u manastiru Hilandaru. Detaljnije je razmotreno optimalno opterećenje dizel agregata sa minimalnom potrošnjom fosilnih goriva. Prikazani su rezultati jednogodišnjeg ispitivanja, u našim uslovima, dobijanja električne energije iz fotonaponskih panela. Imajući u vidu specifičnu lokaciju i značaj manastira, sadašnje i buduće potrebe manastira i specifičan način života monaha, nov hibridni sistem za dnevnu potrošnju od 400 kWh električne energije i vršno opterećenje od 80 kW je projektovan i objašnjen. Zasniva na kombinovanom korišćenju tri dizel generatora snage 2 x 40 kW i 80 kW, fotonaponskih nominalne snage 75 kW i baterije za skladištenje energije od 400 kW. Primarni cilj novog sistema je da smanji potrošnju dizel goriva i operativnih troškova za potrošnju energije sistema