Altar of Jupiter from Vrtlište near Kakanj

Abstract

The paper discusses a newly-discovered epigraphic altar dedicated to the main Roman deity of Jupiter Optimus Maximus from the site of Vrtlište, near the town of Kakanj in central Bosnia. Although the altar is the first epigraphic evidence of this kind in the broader Kakanj area, it represents another confirmation of a dominant role which the cult of Jupiter Optimus Maximus took in the hinterland of the Roman province of Dalmatia. At the same time it is the evidence of the widely spread Aurelius nomina and as such, of increasing Romanization of the autochthonous population during the reign of the Antonine dynasty. As it was already noticed on several votive offerings from other parts of Roman Dalmatia, mainly from municipium Riditarum in modern Croatia, the Maxima cognomina in the onomastic formulae of Aurelia, reveals the autochthonous origin behind the Romanised
formulae, suggesting the process of interpretation Romana. Information of autochthonous origin combined with historical context of altar find spot allow the conclusion that Aurelia Maxima was a member of one of the largest  indigenous tribes in the province of Dalmatia, the Daesitiates. Duo nomina onomastic formulae with Aurelius nomen gentile suggest the dating of the altar 161–212 A. D.