Antiquity Studies

Alcune novità dalla documentazione epigrafica relativa al culto di Aponus

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Abstract

A group of eleven inscriptions from aquae Patavinae are linked by the same unique formula, A(- - -) A(- - -), which occupies the first line of each text. One of the two letters must be read as the initial of the theonym Aponus. One inscription mentioning a musician (calamaula Aponensis) has been interpreted as a possible indication that music was present during the rites at fons Aponi. It appears that even human beings could be donated to the thermal god, as ministers of servile status (ministros) were presented as donatives. Apart from Aponus, other deities have left signs of their presence in the sanctuary as ‘visiting gods’. It seems that the baths of Aponus had a reputation and were attended at a regional level.


open access | peer reviewed

Submitted: July 17, 2025 | Accepted: Sept. 11, 2025 | Published Oct. 19, 2026 | Language: it

Keywords Aponus • Visiting gods • Ministri • Baths • Calamaula • Healing waters • Aquae Patavinae • Interpretatio

Copyright © 2026 Niccolò Gerardo. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/978-88-6969-967-2/012


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