Forme di devozione nei luoghi di culto dell’Abruzzo antico

Abstract

The paper is dealing with the forms of votive religion in a region of Italy, corresponding to the modern Abruzzo, which during ancient times had been inhabited by Italic people, such as Pretuzi, Vestini, Equi, Marsi, Peligni and Marrucini. It addresses chronological issues, (i.e., the onset of votive offerings, their relationship with cult places and sacred buildings, and the moment on their disappearence), problems related to the meaning to be attributed to the different types of supply (bronze, terracotta, pottery) and historicalideological issues, particularly with regard to theme of the Romanization of the territory and of the adhesion of different social classes to a model of religious import. Finally, some examples illustrate the problem of the relationship between a votive offering and the worship of a particular deity.