Monuments of the cult of Telesfor discovered in the territory of Serbia

Abstract

In this paper, monuments dedicated to Telesfor, discovered in the territory of today's Serbia were mentioned. With the cult of Telesfor four findings may be connected originating from three localities. Monuments undoubtedly dedicated to Telesfor were to be found at sculptural group from Mediana, epigraphic monument from Pećka Banja and relief-epigraph monument from Prizren. This short list may be added by fragments of sculptural group from Mediana as well. Out of the mentioned sculptural group, fragmented sculpture Asklepia and the base of group with the traces of feet of two deities were preserved. The cult of God-boy of Telesfor, the sun of Asclepius, had undoubtedly iatric character. Telesfor had taken care of the health and progress of children until their maturity, and during the recovering and cure of all diseased. Future research, field and theoretic ones, will have brought new findings and interpretations connected to numerous issues being raised by the study of this cult.

Keywords

• telesfor
• cult
• antique
• serbia
• mediana
• pećka banja
• prizren
• asclepius
• higia