Lead plaques of the so-called Danubian Riders from Serdica and the surrounding territory

Abstract

The lead plaques of the so-called Danubian Riders significantly outnumber their stone counterparts. In the last fifteen years several new items have been discovered in Sofia and its surrounding territory. The reliefs have identical form and iconography which suggests their manufacturing in the same workshop that should be located in Serdica according to the recent finds. The archaeological context of the monuments provides good evidence for the date of the reliefs in the last quarter of the 3rd – beginning of the 4th c. AD. Several characteristics of the plaques suggest their use rather as phylacteries and personal amulets or in domestic shrines. The growing influence of Christianity most probably is the reason for discarding the discussed reliefs of the Danubian Riders around the middle of the 4th c. AD.

Keywords

• Lead plaques
• Danubian Riders
• Serdica
• cult