Bone Tablets

A study about the cultural relationship between the Greek mainland and its apoikiai in the archaic and classical times constitutes a subject of fundamental importance. Among several regional examples archaeology can address, the Black Sea region and the apoikia of Olbia, in the present coast of Ukraine, looks highly remarkable. Nevertheless, being its features connected with many spheres of Greek society, our focus has been especially on the cultic persistence and orphic  revelation in this far away colony surrounded by foreign tribes and different cultural contacts; counting on the fact that religion is frequently the major indicator of a preservation of social customs and creeds. Moreover Olbia is enriched by the discovery, during the excavations of the temenos, of a few bone tablets, carved with Greek words and symbols of still doubtful decipherment. Understanding their function within cult and mythology in Olbia will therefore be a key study.

Zusammenfassung: Dieser Beitrag soll aufzeigen, dass eine chthonische und eschatologische Dimension der dionysischen Göttlichkeit in verschiedenen Riten und Kulten des Gottes nachgewiesen werden kann und dabei keinesfalls mysterienexklusiv ist. Dazu soll der archäologische Befund, der Dionysos mit dem Jenseits und eschatologischen Hoffnungen in Verbindung bringt, vorgestellt und untersucht werden. Darauf aufbauend soll belegt werden, dass diese jenseitige Dimension sich sowohl in Riten mit privatem Kern, hier am Beispiel der Oreibasia, als auch in Kultfeiern des öffentlichen Festkanons, wie den Anthesterien, zeigt. Abschließend soll dann Dionysos' Funktion in den eleusinischen Mysterien untersucht werden.

Abstract: This paper aims to show that a chthonic and eschatological dimension of dionysiac divinity can be found in various rites and cults of the god and that this is not exclusive for the mysteries. Recent archaeological evidence connecting Dionysos with the afterlife and eschatological expectations will be introduced and analyzed. This dimension manifests itself in rites with a private intent (e.g. the Oreibasia) as well as public celebrations of the festival calendar (e.g. the Anthesteria). An analysis of Dionysos' function in the eleusinian mysteries concludes the overview.