https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5027-4964![Sample our Humanities journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5939/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Humanities.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Mast-step coins have been discovered in Roman shipwrecks dating from the 2nd century BCE to the 4th century CE, and their placement at the foot of the ship’s mainmast was a deliberate act with significant maritime and religious meaning. This article argues that, in antiquity, mast-step coins were votive offerings to a deity associated with the mast and sails of ancient sailing vessels, and it is proposed that this deity was Isis Pelagia, the inventor of navigation and mistress of the sea. Through a discussion of Isis Pelagia’s iconography and other aspects of Isis’ cult, including her sailing festivals and aretalogy, it is posited that the mast came to symbolize the goddess whose natural place was on the decks of Roman ships, holding their billowing sails and guiding them safely to shore. Allegorically, these coins may thus have been placed at the feet of Isis Pelagia.
Se han hallado monedas en la carlinga de pecios romanos fechados entre el siglo II a.C. y el IV d.C. La ubicación de estas piezas en la carlinga del palo mayor era un acto deliberado con un importante significado marítimo y religioso. Este artículo sostiene que en la Antigüedad, estas monedas eran ofrendas votivas a una deidad asociada al mástil y a las velas de las embarcaciones. En particular, se propone que la deidad era Isis Pelagia, inventora de la navegación y amante del mar. Por medio de una discusión de la iconografía de Isis Pelagia y otros aspectos del culto a Isis, como sus festivales de navegación y aretalogía, se postula que el mástil llegó a simbolizar a la diosa, cuyo lugar natural estaba en las cubiertas de las embarcaciones romanos, desde donde mantenía sus ondeantes velas y las guiaba de forma segura a la costa. Por ende, estas monedas pueden haber sido colocadas alegóricamente a los pies de Isis Pelagia.
摘要
在公元前2世纪至公元4世纪的罗马沉船上发现了桅座硬币，它们被放置于主桅杆座下。这是一种具有重大航海和宗教意义的刻意行为。本文认为，在古典时代，桅座钱币是对古代帆船上桅杆与船帆相关神灵的供奉。这是一种具有重要的海洋和宗教意义的刻意行为。并且文中还指出该神灵为航海术的发明者和海洋的女主人伊希斯·佩拉吉亚。通过对伊希斯·佩拉吉亚的图像和伊希斯崇拜其他方面的讨论，包括她的航海节日和传说，我们认为桅杆象征着这位女神，她的天然位置即是在罗马船只的甲板上，拿着飘扬的船帆，引导它们安全上岸。从寓意而言，这些硬币由此可认为是被置于在伊希斯·佩拉吉亚脚下。
摘要
在公元前2世紀至公元4世紀的羅馬沉船上發現了桅座硬幣，它們被置於主桅杆座下。這是一種具有重大航海和宗教意義的刻意行為。本文認為，在古典時代，桅座錢幣是對古代帆船上桅杆與船帆相關神靈之供奉。這是一種具有重要的海洋和宗教意義的刻意行為。並且文中還指出該神靈為航海術的發明者和海洋的女主人伊希斯•佩拉吉亞。通過對伊希斯•佩拉吉亞的圖像和伊希斯崇拜其他方面的討論，包括她的航海節日和傳說，我們認為桅杆象征著這位女神，她的天然位置即是在羅馬船只的甲板上，拿著飄揚的船帆，引導它們安全上岸。從寓意而言，這些硬幣由此可認為是被置於在伊希斯•佩拉吉亞腳下。
PALABRAS CLAVE:
الكلمات الدلالیة:
Disclosure Statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Notes
1 Carlson also mentions the Grado shipwreck; however, the object originally deemed a coin on the Grado is probably a copper or bronze nail-head. For another possible mast-step coin in the Port Vendres B wreck, see Parker & Price (Citation1981, pp. 221–228, Citation1992, pp. 330–331).
2 In addition to Cyme/Kyme, versions have been found at: Ios (IG XII 5, 14 = RICIS 202/1101, 2nd/3rd century CE); Andros (IG XII 5, 739 = RICIS 202/1801, 1st century BCE); Thessalonica (IG X 2, 1, 254 = RICIS 113/0545, 1st/2nd century CE); Kassandreia (RICIS Suppl. I 113/1201, 2nd century CE); Telmessos (RICIS 306/0201, Roman period); Maroneia (RICIS 114/0202, ca. 120 BCE); and Cyrene (SEG IX, 192 = RICIS 701/0103, 103 CE).
3 The legible coins include those from the following wrecks: Planier A (obverse – male head with cornucopia, reverse – horseman with palm leaf); Blackfriars (obverse – Emperor Domitian, reverse – Fortuna with her steering oar); Port Vendres A (obverse – Emperor Constantine, reverse – Roman Genius); and Chrétienne A.
4 Epigraphic evidence for the festival includes: Byzantium (SIRIS 130 = RICIS 114/0703, 1st century CE); Seleucia Pieria (SIRIS 355a = RICIS 402/0201, 1st century CE); Ephesus (CIG II 2955 = SIRIS 302 = RICIS 304/0609, 145–161 CE); Tomis (SIRIS 709 = RICIS 618/1007, 3rd century CE); Chios (SIRIS 324 = RICIS 308/0301); and Amphipolis (RICIS 113/0908). For other evidence, see Bricault (Citation2013, pp. 378–84, Citation2019, p. 87, tab. 20, pp. 181, 203–11, 291).