Full citation – Référence complète:
Angelovski, B., Manaskova, M., Kuzman, P. “The terracottas from Viničko Kale in context: the military references and the possibility of an apotropeic function”. Živa Antika / Antiquité Vivante 74.1-2 (2024), pp. 243–260.

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.47054/ZIVA4741-2243a

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Abstract. – The study of the terracotta plaques in archaeological context enables their functional analysis in a time interval and within the framework of certain historical and ecclesiastical context from the second half of the 5th to the first three decades of the 6th century. Despite the pacifist character of Christianity, the military had a strong influence in the formation of the Early Christian iconography. The military content and military references present in all the deciphered, but also in the still unknown motifs of the terracotta plaques from Vinica, as well as the strong militant character of the fortress, confirms the soldiers as the target group for which the plaques were intended. Hence, undoubtedly, the question can be opened about their apotropaic character as protectors from the real enemy but also from demonic forces at the same time. In addition to the apotropaic power, they were probably also a model for bringing the concept of the new, Christian, religion closer to the army, which was the most resistant to accepting the novelties brought by Christianity, especially during the periods of establishment of the Christian religion and the dominance of the last pagan emperors.
Key words. – Terracotta plaques, Vinica, weapons, holy warriors, roman military, Christianity, Early Christian iconography, apotropaic.