Studia Mythologica Slavica (Apr 2017)

Območje jugovzhodne neviodunske vpadnice v ljudskem izročilu<br>Area of the Southeast Roman Road to Neviodunum (Drnovo pri Krškem) in Oral Tradition</br>

  • Jernej Rihter

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3986/sms.v20i0.6640
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20
pp. 55 – 81

Abstract

Read online

This article deals with oral tradition which refers to the south-eastern periphery of the land that belongs to the village Drnovo pri Krškem (Roman Municipium Neviodunum). There are two important localities named Sap and Bore. Especially the latter locality is known as a place of numerous oral traditions which are connected with supernatural beings, and it is also known as a location of the “Roman gate”. With the introduction of material and intangible circumstances, we are trying to understand the formation of the tradition of “Roman gate”. It turns out that we need a broader review. We are attempting to highlight the location with information of the field partition and archaeology. Results show that the area of Sap-Bore represents the south-eastern border of land that belongs to village Drnovo and it also coincides with the southeast Roman necropolis of Neviodunum. A similar situation is repeated in other necropolises of Neviodunum. With mapping of points of supernatural experiences, the image of the mythical landscape of Drnovo is drawn. The extent of mythical landscape is limited with the archaeological remains of Neviodunum. In this regard, the area of Sap-Bore stands out as one of the liminal points of the mythical landscape of Drnovo. Accordingly, the meaning of the tradition of Roman gates and supernatural experiences at this location are more evident. In this way, shaped topographical unit as a mythical unit of inhabitants of Drnovo (the settlement of which sat right above the Roman ruins) the process of the appropriation of Roman history into the narration of their own origins was taking place.

Keywords