MJEKËSIA, SHËNDETI DHE KULTET E HYJNIVE SHËRUESE NË DARDANINË ROMAKE
MEDICINE, HEALTH AND CULTS OF REMEDIAL DEITIES IN ROMAN DARDANIA

Summary/Abstract: One of the most treasured human riches – health, inhabitants of Dardania during the period of Roman dominion had cultivated by heal-thy food, traditional medicine and the magic medicine but also by honoring cults of remedial deities and guardians of health such as Apo-llonius, Aesculapius, Hygeia, Teleflora, Hercules, Fortuna saluteris, Nymph salutares, Jupiter Propulsator, Goddess Isis etc. Based on archeological proofs it could be concluded that in Dardania epigraphically is testified that the cult of deity of Sun, light, music (was leading Muses-daughters of the Zeus which were Goddesses of inspirations), of prophesy but also of medicine and cure Apo-llonius, in Katllanovë near Shkupit in Kumanovë and in Jankova Kli-sura, whilst in Ulpiana were found the sculpture of this deity, whereas in Peja during the antique existed a temple dedicated to the deities Aesculapius, Hygeia and Telesfor. Aesculapius was a son of Apollonius and he was considered pre-cursor of Hippocrates – establisher of modern medicine. In the temples dedicated to Aesculapius patients sacrificed animals, practiced diffe-rent rituals and slept in the gardens of the temples. Hercules was considered a symbol of physical force but also a God of healing and his cult is testified in Scupi, Prizren, Studenicë of Vrella, Ulpiana and in Naissus. Fortuna personified a fate which would not be subjected to the laws of nature and because of this the name Fortuna Salutaris was re-cognized also as a Goddess which cares for health and which helps the cure. A local God of healing wells and of the healing is testified in an inscription from Banjska of Vushtri by the name IOM Propulsator, whilst in Zllakuqan of Klina there is a chance there existed a temple of Egyptian Goddess of occult and healing Isis. In Dardania during the Antique was also practiced magic as well as other acts with the purpose of healing but also were used plants for production of traditional drugs, while Dardanians knew also contem-porary medicine of the age, served in Roman army as healers (medi-cus) and even practiced surgical and gynecologic interventions such as abortions and other similar interventions. Other Illyrian tribes, same as Dardanians, practiced developed traditional medicine and honored autochthonous Gods related to the medicine. So, for example, Illyrian God Medaurus testified in Africa, in two inscriptions of Roman soldier of Illyrian origin, was maybe a pat-ron of Rizon (according to one of inscription written in verses) and, according to Tomaschek, he was considered a God of medicine. Healing God should had been also Illyrian God Tadenus (testi-fied in the central Illyrian territory) since he was identified with Apollonius.

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