THE DESTRUCTION OF PAGAN SANCTUARIES IN THRACE AND DACIA (ACCORDING TO DATA FROM THE TERRITORY OF PRESENT-DAY BULGARIA)

Ivan Valchev St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia, Bulgaria, Този имейл адрес е защитен от спам ботове. Трябва да имате пусната JavaScript поддръжка, за да го видите.

Abstract: The article examines the issue of the destruction of pagan sanctuaries in the territory of present-day Bulgaria. This issue is not new to the Bulgarian historiography while significant progress has been made so far in raising and resolving a number of important questions. The determination of the time of destruction of the sanctuaries was to some extent facilitated by the intensive coin circulation in the 4th century, which led to the accumulation of tens, and sometimes hundreds and even thousands of coins in the cult sites. Nonetheless the interpretation of these findings –from those deposited in operating sanctuaries to those that are thrown on the ruins of already destroyed ones– is contradictory. In specific cases, both explanations have their grounds, but the conclusions from a particular worship site should not be generalized. In one group of sanctuaries, which probably have been destroyed and abandoned around or soon after the mid. 4th century, it can be assumed that the latest coins are of Constantine I and Constantius II. In most cult sites, however, the latest coins date from the period of Valens, Theodosius I, Arcadius and Honorius. Probably, the active anti-pagan policies dating from the time of Theodosius led to the destruction of most of the extra-urban sanctuaries in the Thracian lands. Key words: Pagan Sanctuaries, Thrace, Dacia, Anti-pagan Policy.: The article examines the issue of the destruction of pagan sanctuaries in the territory of present-day Bulgaria. This issue is not new to the Bulgarian historiography while significant progress has been made so far in raising and resolving a number of important questions. The determination of the time of destruction of the sanctuaries was to some extent facilitated by the intensive coin circulation in the 4th century, which led to the accumulation of tens, and sometimes hundreds and even thousands of coins in the cult sites. Nonetheless the interpretation of these findings –from those deposited in operating sanctuaries to those that are thrown on the ruins of already destroyed ones– is contradictory. In specific cases, both explanations have their grounds, but the conclusions from a particular worship site should not be generalized. In one group of sanctuaries, which probably have been destroyed and abandoned around or soon after the mid. 4th century, it can be assumed that the latest coins are of Constantine I and Constantius II. In most cult sites, however, the latest coins date from the period of Valens, Theodosius I, Arcadius and Honorius. Probably, the active anti-pagan policies dating from the time of Theodosius led to the destruction of most of the extra-urban sanctuaries in the Thracian lands.

Key words: Pagan Sanctuaries, Thrace, Dacia, Anti-pagan Policy.

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