Gjurmët epigrafike të nderimit të hyut Merkur në Dardani
Epigraphic traces o honoring the cult of divinity Mercury in Dardania

Summary/Abstract: While carrying out scientific expedition in June 2004, besides others, there was evidenced new proof of honouring the cult of Antiquity divinity (God) Mercury in the territory of Dardania. It is discussed a fragment of stone a monument from II century AD with dimensions 24x16 cm (fig. 1), which was discovered at Staradan near Istog and which carries a part of inscription dedicated to Divinity of Mercury. In the role of the one who made the dedication appeared Ulpus Viator, who probably was a member of Roman Army, respectively beneficiarius consularis (fig. 2), and it seems that the one who at the beginning of III century AD constructed another monument, but dedicated to Jupiter, which was discovered in Mitrovicë. Mercury is a Divinity adopted by Greek Pantheon considered the son of Zeus and Divinity of Maya. In Rome he was honoured as a Divinity if Economy in general, of Commerce, of gambling even of stealing, while a special place he took as a mediator between divinities and people and as a God’s herald. Honouring the cult of Mercury is evidenced very rarely, while besides the case of Staradan, in Dardanian territories in thirties of XX century it was discovered another monument with inscription dedicated to Mercury, and a sculpture with figurative representation of this Divinity discovered in Ulpiana (fig. 3). This cult is rare in Moesia Superior (Upper Moesia), parts of which became Dardanian territories after Roman invasion and in other neighbouring provinces of the region. Discovery of traces of honouring this cult in Dardanian territories proves the existence of a high level of economy, commerce, social, political and spiritual life in the territory of former Dardanian Kingdom (realm) during the period of Roman invasion.

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