The Engelanes (Encheleis) and the Golden Mask From the Trebenishte Culture – Nade Proeva

S E R B I A N A C A D E M Y OF S C I E N C E S A N D A R T S M A C E D O N I A N A C A D E M Y OF S C I E N C E S A N D A R T S S A S A S p ecial E dition s

Homage to

MILUTIN GARAŠANIN E d ito rs-in - C h ie f N ikola

Tasić

CVETAN

G R OZDANOV

B E L G R A D E 2006

Nade Proeva

THE ENGELA NES / ENCHELEIS AND THE GOLDEN MASK FROM THE TREBENIŠTE CULTURE*

ne of the topics that Professor M. Garašanin had

Encheleis (even by a same author, the most prominent

reviewed near the end of his long scholarly cur-

being Hammond, see below), I felt that it would be ap-

riculum was the problem of the golden funerary masks

propriate to scrutinize once more all the interpretations

from the Trebenište culture, which, at the present state of

proposed, on account of several different types of sourc­

the problem1, can be positively attributed to the tribe of

es (instead of only one, as it has usually been done so

the Engelanes / Encheleis.

far3). I would also aim at presenting a synthetic account,

O

While delving into this academic conundrum, and faced with numerous interprétations of the purpose

chiefly devoted to the ethnicity of the Engelanes, but also touching upon the problem of the funerary masks.

of these masks, professor Garašanin has opted for the

The Engelanes / Encheleis, the oldest attested tribe

explanation that these funerary masks were primarily

in north-western ancient Macedonia, dwelled near the

used to emphasize the grade and status, i.e. that they

present-day Ohrid. In the nearly same territorial span

belonged to the Enchelean chieftains.2 One must, how-

- from the Ohrid region in the south, up to Polog in the

ever, not forget that professor Garašanin was mainly

north - but much later, beginning from the second century

aiming at proving the correctness of his interprétation

BC, our extant ancient sources mention the Dassaretae. The

on the masks' symbolism of status; therefore, his arti­

question of their ethnic stock has often absorbed fellow

cle fell short of discussion on the ethnie background of

scholars, resulting in several differing theories on their

the tribes that had employed this ritual. Moreover, he

ethnicity: thus, there are theories advocating Illyrian

hastily noted but one out of many interprétations of the

origin4, a Macedonian3, a "later-Illyrised autochthonous

origin of the Engelanes / Encheleis and thus gave the impression that this interpretation had been widely accepted by scholars worldwide; unfortunately, there was no mention of other, often vastly divergent, opinions.

3 Thus, archaeologists are mainly commenting archaeological finds, using the written sources only as a support of their interpretations; the classical philologists and the historians, on the other hand, com­

Bearing in mind that this academic question remains

ment exclusively the written sources. This practice is very well il-

open, as well as the fact that there still are many diver­

lustrated by the lengthy article of R. Katičić, who managed to col-

gent interpretations of the ethnicity of the Engelanes /

lect and present the totality of ancient and Byzantine sources on the Boeotian and the "Illyrian" Encheleis, but without taking stance on their origin; Cf. R. Katičić, "Enhelejci", Godišnjak CBI XV/13 (1977), 5-80: Zusamenfassung: Die Encheieer, 81-82.

1 Trebenište culture is a term coined by V. Lahtov (Das Problem der

4 It seems superfluous to remark that this position is, almost without

Trebeniš te-kultur, Ohrid 1965, Zusamenfassung pp. 179-208); his

exception, advocated by Albanian scholars, as well as various schol-

analysis, however, inciuded almost the entire territory of ancient

ars - especially linguists - from the nineteenth and early twentieth

M acedonia. On the other hand, R . VASIĆ (The early iron age groups in

century. On older works, see A. Mayer, Die Sprache der alten Illyrier

Yugoslavia, Beograd, 1975.. Summary pp. 121-142, p. 110—111 ) speaks

I, Wien 1957, p. 135, s.v. Encheieai, p. 110,. s.v. Dassaretae; on the

in more precise terms, limiting the term to the cultural group dwell-

kingdom of the Encheleis, see P. Cabanes, Les Illyriens de Bardyllis à

ing around the present-day Ohrid.

Genthios, 1V-II siècle avant J.-C., Paris 1988, 50. From contemporary

1 M. Garašanin, "Zur Deutung der Masken in reichen grabern aus

scholarship advocating Illyrian origin of the Engelanes, see N. G. L.

Mazedonien", Godišnjak CBI 28 (1991-7), 59-65 (Zusamenfassung

Hammond, A history o f M acedonia I, Oxford 1972, 422.

J. R. WACE & A. M. Woodward, ABSA 18 (1909), 167: Fr. Geyer,

66 - 68 ).

5A.

2 N. G. L. Hammond, Epirus, Oxford 1967, p. 439.

in PW/RE XIV (1938), s.v. M acedonia, col. 638-771, col. 653 Dassare-

HOMAGE TO MILUTIN GARAŠANIN

561

N AD E P R O E V A

tribe"b, an Epirote7, or a Brygian tribe8; some scholars tend

ritory of the Engelanes / Encheleis centuries later. In fact,

to see a tribe of "later-Illyrised Epirote" origin9, others speak

a "properties transfer" of a kind took place, similar to

of "profoundly Illyrised Boeotian settlers"10, and so forth.

the one mentioned above: the historians and the archae-

The list appears to be endless.

ologists transferred the alleged origin of the Dassaretai

Until the 1950s, the interpretation advocating the Il-

to the Engelanes / Encheleis, although F. Papazoglou

lyrian origin of the Encheleis and the Dassaretai gained

herself never equated the Engelanes and the Illyrians.12

the widest acceptance11; this interpretation stood well

On the other hand, N. G. L. Hammond, drawing

until scholars, faced with many allegedly impenetrable

much from Strabo's work (itself based of Hecataeus' Ges

problems of a similar kind, began to pay doser attention

periodos, including a description of the Adriatic coast)

to the epigraphic and archaeological evidence. Owing

argued in favour of Epirote ethnicity.13 However, it is

much to the authority of F. Papazoglou, Yugoslav schol­

worthwhile noting that, while Hecataeus does indeed

ars have almost unanimously opted for the Illyrian ori­

list the tribes in the interior, he neither mentions Epirus,

gin of the Dassaretai, the tribe that had inherited the ter-

nor speaks of Epirote tribes; in fact, we could hardly find a Greek author predating the fourth century BC, who would know of "Epirus" as a toponym. Further-

tis; N. Proeva, "Enchéléens - Dassarètes - Illyriens, sources littérai­

more, until that time, neither were the Epirote tribes

res, épigraphiques et archéologiques", in lllyrie méridionale et l'Epire

called "Epirote" in particular. Hecataeus happens to be

dans l ’antiquité II, Clermont-Ferrand 1990, Paris 1993,193 sqq.

6 F. Papazoglou, "L'organisation politique des Illyriens à l'époque

the main source - or, at least, one of the main sources

de leur indépendance", in A. Benac (éd.), Sur les Illyriens à l'époque

- for Strabo's work; but it is Strabo, not Hecataeus, who

antique V/2, Sarajevo 1967, 26: "Certains sources les distinguent [sc.

uses the terms "Epirus" and "Epirote tribes". To trans­

the Encheleis] des "Illyriens", ce qui permet peut-être de supposer

fer Strabo's terminology back into the times of Hecat­

qu'il s'agit d'une population préillyrienne, assimilée aux Illyriens proprements dits."; Eadem, "Les royaumes d'Illyrie et de Dardanie",

aeus - who explicitly speaks of Chaones and Molossoi

in Les Illyriens et les Albanais, colloques scientifiques XXXIX/10, Beo­

- would be, in the mildest of terms, a very questionable

grad, 1988, 178, n. 20: "...tandis que les Enchéléens n'étaient pas,

practice.

selon toute apparence, des Illyriens.''

7 N. G. L. Hammond, Epirus, 458.

8 W. Pająkowski, "W er waren Illyrii proprie dicti und wo siedelte

As usual in ancient times, Greek authors have adapted the name of the tribe to the Ionian dialect; the Enge­

man sie an?", Godišnjak CBI XVIII/16 (1980), 124-128, claims that

lanes thus became the Encheleis, a name subsequently

the Engelanes are a part of the Illyrii proprie dicti (p. 136), while the

adopted by modern scholars. A passage by Stephanus of

Dassaretai are Brygian, page 127.

Byzantium, himself quoting Mnaseas, testifies that "the

9 N. G. L. Hammond, Epirus, 466: "...the Enchelei themselves had a Greek name, but were probably Illyricized."; M. B. Hatzopoulos,

Engelanes and the Encheleis are the same tribe", con-

"Lim ites d'expansion macédonienne en lllyrie", in lllyrie méridio­

firming that the usual form is, in fact, an adaptation of

nale et l'Epire dans l ’antiquité, vol. I, Clermont-Ferrand 1984, Paris

the original name. Indeed, the concordance of ancient

1987, 82, n. 15 accepts the opinion of Hammond, A history o f Mac-

Macedonian g and ancient Greek ch being common lin-

edonia I, 94 on the Chaonian, i.e. Greek origin of the Dexari, identi-

guistic knowledge, we can safely assume that "Engel­

fied with the Dassaretae, later also including the Engelanes. Note, however, that the article of M. Hatzopoulos unfortunately includes

anes" was the autochthonous, Macedonian form, thus

geographical inaccuracies and arbitrary claims, e.g., the author

being the more correct usage. By adopting this usage, we

equates the northern frontier of Lyncestis with the Greek-Yugoslav

will be able to make a clear difference between the En­

[i.e. Macedonian] border (page 82, note 15) although it is common knowledge that Heracleia Lyncestis is located in close vicinity of the modern-day Bitola, in the Republic of M acedonia; the author also

gelanes and the Boeotian Encheleis. This is, also, a very important due for investigating the ethnic stock of the

locates the Paeonian city of Audaristos (or Eudaristos) in Pelagonia

tribe. Furthermore, our earliest extant written sources

(page 84); the fort of Sarnuntum, in Dardania (?) is equated without

never include the Engelanes among the Illyrian tribes;

justification with the city / oronym Sarnous and located in the vicin­ ity of Debrešte, near the present-day Prilep, although it is clear that Sarnuntum laid on the Via Egnatia, etc.

12 See above, note 6. It is notable that the majority of Bulgarian

10 N. Theodosiev, "The dead with golden faces. II: Other evidence

scholars quote the opinions of F. Papazoglou and M. Garašanin on

and connections", Oxford Journal o f Archaeology 19.2 (2000), 178; on

this problem quite differently from the way the authors expressed

the same page, the author dismisses the theory of V. Sokolovska

themselves, even attributing an opinion of Thracian origin to M.

("W ho was buried in the Trebeništa cem etery", 1997, p. 25, in

Garašanin; the latest example of this practice being Thracia 11, Ser-

Macedonian) that the Boeotian Encheleis migrated to Illyria.

dicae 1995, p. 201, notes 46 & 47.

11 A. Philippson, PW/RE IV/2 (1901), s.v. Dasaretis, col. 2221-2222;

13 N. G. L. Hammond, Epirus, 458: (c) The description of the Interior

Id., PW/RE V/2 (1905) s.v. Encheleis, col. 2549.

of Epirus, sqq.

562

H O M A G E TO MI LU TI N G A R A Š A N I N

T H E E N G E L A N E S / E N C H E L E I S A N D T HE G O L D E N MA S K .

on the contrary, they are always mentioned apart from

of Euripides23 on the attack of a mixed barbarian army

the Illyrians.

on Delphi; this mixed barbarian army are, obviously, the

The first ancient author to explicitly mention the

Illyrian and Enchelean armies mentioned by his con-

Encheleis / Engelanes was Hecataeus, the sixth cen­

temporary Herodotus, who explicitly states that "as for

tury BC author of a now lost periegesis (Periodos Ges);

the oracle... I am well assured (oida) that it did not mean

the same piece of information - that they neighboured

them, but the Illyrians and the Enchelean host."24

the Chaonian Dexari - was also noted in the Ethnica of

The Encheleis / Engelanes are usually categorised as

Stephanus of Byzantium.14 Indeed, the Chaones dwelled

Illyrian from the second half of the fourth century BC

near the northern frontier of Epirus; this is, however, the

- the first author being Pseudo-Skylax25 - a time that c o ­

only known occurrence of the term Dexari.

in cid es with the increased Greek interest in the Adriatic

From the fifth century BC onwards, the Engelanes

coast. At this time, the Illyrian State was in full vigour;

are gradually associated with the Phoenician legendary

having in mind that the Engelanes, fell under Illyrian

hero Cadmus and the Cadmeians. In the fifth century

authority every time the Illyrians were strong (or every

BC, Herodotus, mentions15 that Theban Cadmeians

time Macedonian central power debilitated), it is very

found a shelter with the Encheleis / Engelanes; again,

understandable that our sources began to list them as an

Diodorus Siculus, an author from the first century BC,

Illyrian tribe. The account of Herodotus, who spoke of

mentions that the Encheleis / Engelanes took the city

Cadmeians coming to shelter with the Encheleis / Enge­

of Thebes, causing the Cadmeians to seek refuge with

lanes was conveniently altered by the times of Pausani-

the Illyrians.16 Apollodorus, writing in the first or sec­

as, who informs us that the shelter had been given by the

ond century AD, informs that the Encheleis / Engelanes

Illyrians26; however, in a different passage, Pausanias

waged war against Illyrian tribes.17 Finally, in a passage

remarkably adds: "the Illyrians, who used to be called

concerning a Delphic oracle, Herodotus mentions the

Encheleis".27 In the same manner, Apollodorus' infor­

Encheleis / Engelanes along with the Illyrians18, but does

mation on Cadmus helping to the Encheleis / Engelanes,

not claim that they are actually Illyrian. M. Suić argues

who at the time fought against the Illyrians, was consid-

that the reason behind Herodotus' differentiation is that

erably changed by the time of Stephanus of Byzantium,

the Greeks knew of the Encheleis / Engelanes before ac-

who speaks of help given to the Illyrians.2S Indeed, by

quainting themselves with the Illyrians.19 However, this

the time of Stephanus, the term lllyria practically devel-

argument must be dismissed, as in that case the gen­

oped into an administrative term equalling Illyricum; it

eral ethnonym for the assumed group of related tribes

is understandable that, quoting Mnaseas, he adds that

would be Encheleis - the name of the first known tribe, as

the Engelanes were "a tribe in lllyria" - not "an Illyrian

usual in antiquity - and not Illyrioi.20 His interpretation

tribe".29

of the expression "the Illyrian and the Enchelean army"

As ancient evidence has shown, there is little doubt

as a hendiadyoin21 has been dismissed by R. Katičić, as

that the Engelanes are a separate tribe, which can nei­

the passage mentioned above clearly indicates that they

ther be listed, nor treated as Illyrian. The only excep­

fought against each other.22 There is, furthermore, a note

tion to this is Appian's Genealogy, referring to Encheleus

14 Hecat. apud Steph. Byz., s.v. Dexaroi, cf. K. Muller, Fragmenta Historicorum Graecorum (FHC), Paris 1874, fr. 73; F. Jacoby, Fragmente der Griechischen Historiker (FGrHist), Berlin 1923, fr. 103.

15 Her. V, 61.

Diod. XIX, 53.3-5.

17 Apoll. Bibl. V, 5.4.

23 Euripid. Bacchae, 1356.

24 Her. IX, 43.

25 Ps.-Scylax 24-25.

2h Paus. IX, 5.3.

27 Paus. IX, 5.13.

18 Her. V, 43.

28 Etym. Magn., s.v.

19 M. Suić, "Istočnojadranska obala u Pseudo-Skilakovu Periplu",

29 This generic term precedes Stephanus, as the ancient - especially

Rad JAZU 306 (1955), 145, a scholar article that, unfortunately, has

Greek - authors knew little of the ethnic stock of the tribes in the

no foreign language summary.

interior of the Balkans until the Roman occupatio n; one could even

20 Thus, the Romans named the Hellenes Graeci by the name of the

say that the interior of the Balkans presented a terra incognita. Note,

tribe Graikoi, which they first met when entering Greece.

21 M. Suić, "Illyrii proprie dicti", God. CB/XIII/11 (1974), 184: Résumé,

also, that Roman authors, with a much better knowledge of the inte-

194-196. Hammond, Epirus, 466 n.1 interprets this information by

ians in the narrowest sense", knowing that the province of Illyricum

Herodotus as enlisting the Encheleis among the Illyrians.

included tribes other than Illyrian. However, the wider administra­

22 R. Katičić, "Die Encheleer", p. 22, n. 33, as well as p. 24.

tive term, Illyrians, was commonly accepted.

rior than the Greeks, coined the expression Illyrii proprie dicti, "Illyr-

H OM A G E TO MI LUTI N G A R A Š A N I N

563

NADE PROEVA

as a son of Illyrius - a genealogy that, as Appian himself

The Engelanes are mentioned for the last time in Poly­

mentions, he liked the most30, and which was obviously

bius' account of Philip V's actions against Scerdilaidas of

used to validate the aggressive policy of the Roman re­

the Illyrians, which took place in 217 BC in Dassaretia -

public by including barbarian tribes into Graeco-Roman

the author, obviously, being a contemporary of the events.

mythology.31

This piece of information gives credibility to Strabo, who

The Engelanes/Encheleis and the Illyrians were con­

notes38 that that the Encheleis / Engelanes were also called

nected through mythological discourse: as per Apollo-

Dassaretae - a widely accepted emendation of the term

dorus, the Encheleis / Engelanes will triumph against the

Sessarethii, which actually stood in the text.39 Having this

Illyrians only if led by Cadmus32 - which eventually oc­

in mind, some scholars identify the Dexari with the Das-

curred; subsequently, Cadmus was designated a ruler of

saretai40; this is dismissed by R. Katičić, on the grounds

the Illyrians, and it is at this point in his life that Harmonia

that the Chaonian tribes are never listed among Illyrian

gave birth to his son Illyrius. In a passage by Euripides, the

tribes.41 The last mention of the Dassaretae goes back to

god Bacchus foretells that Cadmus and Harmonia will be

the mid-first century AD: Pomponius Mela42 isolates them

transformed into serpents and transferred to the Elysian

from the tribes whom "proprie Illyrios vocant". This is

fields - the final resting place of the blessed - as Cadmus

an indication that the Dessaretai (and, subsequently, the

led a mixed barbarian army (presumably of Illyrians and

Engelanes) are not Illyrian, as well as a clue against some

Engelanes) into looting the sanctuary at Delphi.33 How­

theories that the nucleus of the Illyrian state was situated

ever, by the second century BC (i.e. in the account of Philo

in the Ohrid region.43

of Byblos), the mix is gone: the myth of reptilic transfor­

After the ancient writers included them among the

mation is linked only to the Illyrian tribes on the Adriatic

Illyrians in the widest sense - as they have done with

coast, as that is the location of Elysian Fields according

the legend of the graves of Cadmus and Harmonia

to Greek mythology. This indicates that, by that time, the

- the presumed location of the Engelanes was conven­

difference between the Engelanes and the Illyrians was

iently moved to the west, towards the Adriatic - or,

lost - an obvious fact, considering Pausanias' account on

more precisely, between Epidamnus / Dyrrhachium and

the "Illyrians, called Encheleis"34, virtually unison with

Buthoe.44 As Greek knowledge of the world increased,

Herodotus' information on the Cadmeians who found

the west frontier of the world as they knew it moved

shelter with the Encheleis.35 The same goes with their

even more westwards; accordingly, westwards followed

graves, located at the banks of the Illyrian river. Apollon­

the Underworld, as the World of the Deceased was lo­

ius of Rhodes, in the third century BC, is the only author

cated where the Sun sets.45 Pseudo-Skylax46 was the first

that records both traditions: the graves are on the banks of the Illyrian river36, near the Encheleis / Engelanes.37

38 Strab. VII, 7.8.

39 N. G. L. Hammond, A history o f Macedonia 1,466-7, n. 2, dismisses the

30 Appian. III. IX, 2.

31 Illyrius is, thus, the son of Polyphemus the Cyclop and Galatea the

equation of the Encheleis and the Sesarethii (=Dessaretii, Dasaretae).

Nymph (presumably meaning that Illyrius is Greek); his brothers are

41 R. Katičić, "Encheleer", p. 8. This identification was dismissed as

40 N. G. L. Hammond, A history o f Macedonia I, 94.

Celtus and Galatus; Illyrius' sons are eponymes of non-Illyrian tribes,

early as G.

not mentioned in the Macedonica - the fifth book, containing episodes

Leipzig 1877, p. 13.

from Illyrian history (i.e. the Roman-Illyrian wars). R. Katičić ("Die

42 Pomp. Mella II, 54-56.

Encheleer", p. 34) thinks that the genealogy was mainly tailored with respect to the notion of the original Roman province of Illyricum; also

43 The "Illyrians in the narrowest sense" dwelled on the coastline

M. Šašelj-Kos, "Mythological stories concerning Illyria and its name",

Katičić, "Illyrii proprie dicti", Živa Antika 13-14 (1964), p. 87-97.

Illyrie méridionale et l'Épire dans l'Antiquité, Acte du IV coll. Int. 2002

This was dismissed by F. Pa p a z o g l o u , Historia 14 (1965), p.177-179;

(2004), p. 502, gives an explanation on the unmentioned tribes in the province of Illyricum (p. 503). Therefore, the opinion of Hammond

the author reckons that they had to be closer to Macedonia, while

Z ip p e l ,

Die romische Herrschaft in Illyrien bis au f Augustus,

of the Adriatic, between the cities of Epidauros and Lissos, cf. R.

M. Suić ("Illyrii proprie dicti", Godišnjak CBI 12 (1975), p. 179-196,

(A History o f Macedonia I, p. 422) - that this genealogy goes back to the

supposes they inhabited southern Albania.

times of Greek colonisation - must be dismissed.

44 Virgil informs us that - at the time when Cadmus crossed the

32 Apoll. Bibl. V, 5.4.

frontier of Macedonia - Harmonia gave birth to Illyrius near the

33 Eurip. Bacchae 1330-1339.

Illyrian river (Aeneid, Scholia Vaticana, I, 243).

34 Paus. IX, 5.3.

45 In Greek mythology, the Underworld was usually connected with

35 Her. V, 61.

36 R. Katičić, "Illyricus fluius", Adriatica praehistorica et antiqua, Mis­

the Adriatic coast, more specifically with the coastline of Epirus (the

cellanea G. Novak, Zagreb 1970, 385-392.

46 Ps.-Skylax, Periplous 24: "there lie the gravestones of Cadmus

37 Apolloni Rhodii Argonautica IV, 516-518.

and Harmonia."

564

HOMAGE TO MILUTIN GARAŠANIN

underground rivers Acheron and Cocytos, the Necromanteion).

THE E N G E L A N E S / E N C H E L E IS AND THE G O L D E N MASK.

ancient author to locate the gravestones of Cadmus and

only source putting forth a specific toponym - Cylices -

Harmonia in the interior, near the river Arion (obviously

for the graves; although there is no closer information on

the Drilon).47 Eratosthenes located them - vaguely, one

the location, it is safe to assume that we would be, once

might add - between the Drilon (the present-day Drim /

more, looking at the Drilon.50 This is favoured by a piece

Drin) and the Aous (the present-day Vojuša / Vijosë), riv­

of evidence by Strabo, who locates the Encheleis / Enge-

ers far off in any case.48 In book XXII of his now-lost His­

lanes near Lake Lychnidus (present day Lake Ohrid),

tory49 written in the third century BC, Philarchus is the

adding that this area includes sites from the legend of

47 On the different interpretations of the name of the river, see R.

50 M. Šašelj-Kos ("Fam ous Kylikes in Illyris", Historia XLII/2 (1993),

Katičić, "Encheleer", 40.

247-251) identifies this toponym with Procopius' Kilikai (De aedif.

48 These sources are analysed by R. Ka t i č i ć , "Encheleer" 38-44.

4.4) and presumes that the narrative follows a geographical ap­

49 Apud Athen., Deipnosoph. 11.6, p. 462b; cf. Jacoby, FGrHist 2 A 81,

proach, thus locating it on the bank of Drilon river; such location is

fr. 39.

in accordance to the other data in the sources.

H O M A G E TO MI LU TI N G A R A Š A N I N

565

NADE PROEVA

Cadmus.51 Furthermore, an epigram written by Chris-

Pomponius Mela in 2.54-56.60 This corpus of evidence

todorus in the fifth or the sixth century AD celebrates

shows that the Engelanes, i.e. the Dassaretae, were a tribe

Cadmus as the founder of Lychnidus.52 The entirety of

neighbouring the Illyrii proprie dicti, a fact that facilitated

mythic evidence on Cadmus and Harmonia is notably

errors in judgement, and which perfectly explains their

connected to the stream of the Drilon from Lychnidus to

inclusion in the list of Illyrian tribes.

Buthoe - a hint at the area inhabited by the Engelanes.53

As we have seen, the extant written sources give

It is beyond doubt that an analysis of the numerous ac­

credit to the observation that the tribes in question can­

counts and mentions of the Engelanes/Encheleis in the

not be Illyrian; this can be verified and confirmed by

written sources would result in determining their geo­

onomastic data. Onomastic researches in the western

graphic nucleus with a reasonable level of accuracy.

part of the Republic of Macedonia61 have resulted in a

The first to mention the Engelanes in terms of geog­

fairly small number of proper Illyrian names (only four

raphy was Hecataeus, who locates them on the north­

out of fifty names, found on inscriptions in the Ohrid /

western frontier of Epirus, near the Chaones; in the third

Struga region, were usually categorised as Illyrian; only

century BC, Apollonius of Rhodes notes that that they

two out of twenty on the inscriptions from the surround­

dwell around the Ceraunian Mountains54, coinciding

ings of Kičevo and Polog).62 Moreover, a part of these

with the location of the gravestones of Cadmus and Har­

personal names, previously thought Illyrian, appear to

monia.55 Pseudo-Skylax locates the Ceraunian Mountains

have numerous analogies in Asia

in Chaonia, on the Epirote border.56 On the other hand, Pseudo-Skymnos, in the late second century BC, puts the

Minor - a fact in favour of them being attributed to the Brygians63, a tribe attested as well in

Encheleis / Engelanes near the Brygians, them living in the

this part of Macedonia. Therefore, we may confi­

interior near Dyrrhachium37, i.e. to the west of the Taulan-

dently assume that we are dealing with Brygian - i.e.

tii. Speaking of the events from 217 BC, Polybius notes

after the process of ethnogenesis had finally finished,

that Philip V conquered for the second time the Engela­

with Macedonian tribes.64

nes near Lake Lychnidus58; this is confirmed by Strabo,

The archaeological evidence stays completely in line

who puts the Engelanes between the Brygians and the

with this interpretation. It is very important to stress that

upper-Macedonian Lyncestae, adding that the Engelanes

the material culture along the flow of the Devoll river in

are also called Sessaretae / Dessaretae.59 This piece of in­

southern Albania, i.e. in the area inhabited by the Enge­

formation clearly shows that the Engelanes dwelled north

lanes / Dassaretae, is thoroughly different from the Mati

of the Epirote border, towards the upper flow of Drilon

culture, north of the valley of Shkumbin river, in an Il­

in the north - a bit of evidence completely adequate to

lyrian-inhabited area; the differences are noticeable ever

our knowledge of the territory of the Dassaretae. In time,

since the end of the Bronze Age, (the Maliq C -D group)

the name Dassaretae prevailed, as shown by the parallel

and much more in the Iron Age65; this culture has been

mentioning of both tribes (Dassaretae and Illyrians) by 60 N. Proeva, "Enchéléens - Dassarètes - Illyriens", p. 197.

51 Strab. VII, 7.8.

61 Due to the lack of an epigraphical corpus from the Albanian part

52A n th . Palat. VII, 697.

of Enchelean territory, this statistic is based on the inscriptions from

53 Pliny (NH III, 139) is alone in testifying that the Encheleis / Enge­

the western part of the Republic of Macedonia.

lanes were a Liburnian tribe, which is opposed to every other piece

b2 A list of the names in N. Proeva, "Enchéléens - Dassarètes - Il­

of information about them, thus being an obvious error. Supported

lyriens", p. 198-9.

by Katičić, "Encheleer", p. 61.

63 F. Papazoglou, "Structures ethniques et sociales dans les régions

54 Scholia in Apollonium Rhodium vetera IV, 507.

centrales des Balkans à la lumière des études onomastiques", Actes

55 Their gravestones are also located near this mountain by Dionisius

du VIIe congrès international d'épigraphie grecque et latine, Bucarești-

Periegetes (second century A.D.) in his Description o f the Oecumene;

Paris 1977, p. 151-169.

also, see the twelfth-century commentary of Eustathius of Thessal-

64 On these problems, see N. Proeva, "Enchéléens - Dassarètes - Il­

onica, containing data also adopted by Avian and Priscian in the

lyriens", p. 197-8, as well as Les études sur les anciens Macédoniens

fourth century A.D. (C. Muller, Geographi Graeci minores II, p. 127).

(Résumé, pp. 269-278), Skopje 1997, ch. VI.

56 Ps.-Skylax 26.

65M . Garašanin, "Formation et origins des Illyriens", in M . Garašanin

57 Ps.-Skymnos, Perieg. 437-438; cf. PW/RE III A, s.v. Bryges, col.

(éd.), Les Illyriens et les Albanais, XXXIX/10, Beograd 1988, p. 104-5.

672-675.

Thus, on page 131 the author argues that, considering these facts,

58 Polyb. V, 108.

the Illyrian stock of the population in this area is at least formally

59 Strab. VII, 7.8.

questionable.

566

H O M A G E TO MI LUTi N G A R A Š A N I N

THE E N G E L A N E S / E N C H E L E I S AN D THE G O L D E N MASK.

tagged Boubousti-Tren.66 Although professor Garašanin

"princely" graves stimulated a special interest among re­

had noted the different material cultures south and

searchers. Going back to the sixth and fifth centuries BC,

north of the Shkumbin river in an admirable manner, he

these princely graves hid a rich inventory in funerary ob­

was mislead by the widely accepted opinion that the ar­

jects - black-figured vases, golden and silver jewellery, sil­

eas south of the river were inhabited by the Illyrii proprie

ver vessels, bronze craters, bronze weapons, as well as five

dicti and went on to explain the distinctions by influenc­

masks, bracelets and sandal soles made of gold foil. Many

es from the Greek world.67 A. Benac, on the other hand,

questions that emerged since the discovery of these rich

gives more attention to the fine matte-painted pottery of

graves have already been elucidated, the major ones being

the so-called "Devoll style", found from the watershed

the identity of the deceased and the origin of the objects;

of the Devoll river, by Korce, around Lake Ohrid, at Bou-

however, there is an ongoing discussion on the origin of

bousti in the upper Haliacmon basin (Orestis): as this

the specific burial customs involving golden masks. It has

type of pottery is atypical of the Illyrian culture, Benac

been cleared out that the bronze vessels - although not

associates it with the Dassaretai.6S The Bronze Age mate­

used in Greece until Hellenistic times73 due to the different

rial culture from southern Albania was usually attribut­

social system of poleis, opposed to barbarian kingdoms -

ed to the Greeks69, as Boubousti-Tren was to Illyrians.70

were actually made in Corinth (e.g. the craters from grave

However, both the Maliq C -D and the Boubousti-Tren

no. 8, ornate with a frieze of horsemen or cows), Corinthian

cultural groups have close relations in the material cul­

colonies in the north-west or on Chalcidice (where a spe­

ture of Pelagonia71, while differing from material culture

cific, "Chalcidicean" style emerged, especially pertaining

in Illyrian areas - the boundary between the two cultural

to bronze vessels), or the colonies in southern Italy.74 On

entities being on the Shkumbin river. This is another sol­

the other hand, the silver rhythons and skyphoi, aimed at

id piece of evidence that the ancient tribes that dwelled

local aristocracy, were of Ionian-Persian style75; this, once

around Lake Ohrid (known in earlier time by the name

again, sheds light on the relations between Macedonia

of Engelanes / Encheleis, later as Dassaretai) cannot be

and the Eastern Mediterranean, but also confirms an early

classed as belonging to the group of Illyrian tribes.

practice of adoption and imitation of the imported vessels

Another site deserving a mention is the necropo­

by local artisans.76 The composite style jewellery, mainly

lis between the villages of Trebenište and Gorenci. It is

in filigree, is a product of Chalcidicean artisans, but it was

contemporary with our written sources, being in active

tailored bearing in mind the lifestyles and likings of the

use from the seventh, until the fourth or even third cen­

local population (e.g., the ring-headed pins with stylised

tury BC. So far, archaeologists have discovered a total

palmette ornaments, similar to the ornaments on Philip II's

of fifty-six graves72; however, the thirteen rich, so-called

sarcophagus; the pins with stylised opium poppy berries - papaver somniferus, etc).

Due to the lack of analogies for the custom of covering

66 W. A. Heurtley, Prehistoric Macedonia, Cambridge, 1939, cat. nos.

the face of the deceased with a gold mask, the gold-plat­

4 5 9 ^ 6 7 ; M. Korkuti, "L'agglomération préhistorique de Tren", Iliria I (1972), p. 38- 4 2.

ing of the bare parts of the body, as well a lack of analogies

67 M. Garašanin, op. cit., p. 131.

68 "Le culte des morts dans la région illyrienne a l'époque préhistori­ que", in A. Benac (éd.), Culture spirituelle des Illyriens, symp. HercegNovi 1982, Sarajevo, 1984, p. 146-7, résumé p. 150-152.

to the findings in particular, scholars in the past have usu­ ally tended to attribute this necropolis to the Illyrians.77 However, in the early 1990's, archaeologists discovered a sixth-century BC necropolis at Sindos (Tekelievo)7S near

69 W. A. Heurtley, Annual BSA XXVIII (1926-7), p. 191; N. G. L. H a m ­ mond,

Macedonia I, p. 405-407.

70 N. G. L. Hammond, Epirus, p. 313, as well as several Albanian schol­ ars: M. Korkuti, p. 63 in Les Illyriens et la genèse des Albanais, Tirana 1971; Zh. A n d rea , "La civilisation des tumuli du bassin du Korçe et sa place

73 C. Rolley, Les bronzes grecs, Fribourg 1983, p.132. /4 C. Rolley, op. cit., p. 142; R. Va s i Ć , "Greek Bronze Vessels found in

dans les Balkans du Sud-Est", Studia Albanica IX/2 (1972), p. 196 calls it a

Yugoslavia", Živa antika 33.2 (19S3), p. 188-9.

"southern Illyrian" group; F. Prendi, "Un aperçu sur la civilisation de la première période du fer en Albanie", Iliria 3 (1975), p. 128.

/5 Lj. Popovic, "La vessele d'argent de la nécropole de Trebenište (résumé)", Živa antika 8 (1953), p. 154.

71 M. Garašanin, op. cit., p. 116-117. On the material culture in Pel­

76 B. Barr-Sharrar, "Eastern Influence on the Toreutic art of Macedo­

agonia, see the account of R. Vasić, "Pelagonija" in S. Gabrovec (ed.)

nia", Ancient Macedonia IV, Thessaloniki 1986, p. 79-81.

Praistorija jugoslavenskih zemalja, Sarajevo, 1987, p. 712-72-723.

/7 A practice recently dismissed by Bulgarian researchers, attribut­

' 2 A summary of the excavations and of older works in R. Vasic,

ing the necropolis to the Thracians; L. Konova, "The necropolis from

"Ohridska oblast", in S. Gabrovec (ed.) Praistorija jugoslavenskih zemalja, Sarajevo, 1987, p. 724-733.

Trebenište - studies and problems", Thracia 11 (1995), p.197, 201-201. /fi ΣΙΝΔΟΣ, Κατάλογος της έκθεσης, Αοχ. Μουσ. Θεσσαλονίκης, Athènes 1985.

H O M A G E TO MI LUTI N G A R A Š A N I N

567

NADE PROEVA

Salonica. The graves, as well as the funerary inventory,

in the Mati culture, which is Illyrian beyond any doubt,

bear an explicit resemblance to the ones from the ne­

compared to the Kuçi i Zi (Korce) in the lower basin of

cropolis at Trebenište / Gorenci near Ohrid, in the habitat

the Devoll river, attributed to the Engelanes.85

of the Engelanes. The necropolis at Sindos is located in

Thus, if we agree that the religious and cultural traits

Amphaxitis, a strip of land inhabited by Paeonian tribes,

in a tribe have a key role in determining its ethnic stock,

themselves impossible to characterise as Illyrian.79 Con­

the Engelanes cannot be defined as an Illyrian tribe, as

cerning the fact that the material culture, as well as the

shown by the analysis of the written sources and the

funerary ritual, is nearly indistinguishable from the one

onomastic data.

in Gorenci / Trebenište, it becomes clear that the tribes

The discovery of the first two golden masks at Gor­

discussed in this article share identical cultural and reli­

enci / Trebenište had not only been of key significance

gious traits; this is of utmost importance, as the Sindos

but also astounding; however, it made scholars face a

necropolis, located in the heart of ancient Macedonia,

new brainteaser.86 Until that time, no golden masks

can by no means be categorised as Illyrian.

were discovered at any of the classical sites attributed

This observation is supported by other archaeologi­

to autochthonous Balkan tribes or peoples (be it Greeks,

cal findings. The discovery of a Macedonian-type tomb80

Thracians87, Illyrians or other). Moreover, it was a con­

from the third century BC in the village of Dolno Selce

ventional practice - with but a few exceptions - to add

near Pogradec, on the Albanian side of Lake Ohrid81,

the Macedonians to the list of Greek tribes; thus, there

yielded a military bronze clasp with the iconography of

was no option left but to attribute the masks unearthed

an equestrian with Macedonian weapons killing a bar­

to their eastern neighbours - the Illyrians, although their

barian, presumably a Celt.82 The clasps discovered in Il­

boundaries - mainly due to insufficient sources and lack

lyrian areas83, compared to the one discovered in Dolno

of research - were not yet determined with a satisfying

Selce, remarkably differs by the trapezoidal form, the

level of accuracy. However, the traits of the funerary cult

artistic style, the clearly discernible horror vacui alien to

present at Sindos are neither Illyrian88, nor Greek89; in

Macedonian art, as well as by the depicted weaponry.

fact, they are highly important for the definition of the

As for the three rectangular clasps from the Gostilj ne­

material culture of the dwellers of Trebenište and its sur­

cropolis near Lake Skadar (Scutari), on the territory of

roundings - and not less for determining their ethnic

the Illyrian Labeati - A. Jovanović interprets them to be

stock.

a result of pure Macedonian propaganda, aimed at at­

It is a notable fact that, so far, no funerary golden

tracting the Illyrians into an anti-Roman coalition.84 The

masks have been discovered on classical Greek territory.

difference in the ornaments and the clothing - a reflec­

The sole fortuitous finding of a golden mask of Boeotian

tion of the social system in the Iron Age - can be noticed

origin, lacking any contextual data and very doubtful in

79 V. Sokolovska (see note 10), tries to define the Engelanes and the

85 B. Teržan, "Die Tracht als kennzeichnendes element der altereeisen-

Dassaretae as Paeonians; this attempt, however, provoked neither

zeitlichen gesellschaftsgruppen zwischen Drim und Devoll", zusamen-

reaction nor support. Note that the book in question bristles with

fassung, in A. Benac (éd.), Culture spirituelle des Illyriens, p. 211.

contradictions unworthy of comment, as well as with a selective

86 Some even spoke of foreigners - Celtic warriors buried with the

(not to say ignorant) approach to scholar literature.

spoils from Delphi, cf. B. Čajkanović, RIEB II (1936), p. 137-148.

80 This is the only Macedonian-type grave on Albanian territory

87 The golden mask - phiale discovered in 2004 near Šipka weighs

- a very notable fact, bearing in mind that except in Macedonia,

673 grams; it is, however, of a completely different type and obvi­

Macedonian-type graves can be found only in areas that fell under

ously made with a different purpose in mind. In order to give an

Macedonian political domination.

interpretation of this discovery, one has to wait for the complete

81 N. Ceka, "Les tombes monumentales de la Basse Selce", lliria IV

publication. At this time, only the field report is available: G. Kitov,

(1976), p. 367-369.

"Rich grave in Svetitsa tumulus" (summary, p. 426), in Studia Ar-

82 D. Rendić-Miočević, "L'art des Illyriens à l'époque antique” (Résumé

chaeologica Universitatis Serdicensis, suppl. IV (2005), p. 422-3.

pp. 78-80), in A. Benac (éd.), Culture spirituelle des Illyriens, p. 76.

88 Dismissed by V. Popovic, "Sur l'origine des objets grecs ar­

83 Dj. Basler, CZM XXIV, Sarajevo, 1969, tombe 30, p. 29, Pl. II (Gos­

chaïques de la nécropole de Trebenište et le problème des masques

tilj necropolis); Z. M arić, GZM, XXVII/XXVIII, Sarajevo, 1972/72, p.

d'or" (résumé, p. 30), Starinar, XV-XVI, 1964/65, p. 26; the Illyrian

257/8, Pl. I (Ošanići near Stolac).

theory was also advocated by N. Vulic, Rev. Intern. Etudes Balkani­

84 "Ein Beitrag zur Erforschung der Gürtelplatten vom illyrishen

ques, I (1934), p. 134.

Raum ", Godišnjak CBI XXVII/25 (1989), p. 123-130, zusamenfas-

89 Dismissed by V. Popovic, "Les masques funéraires de la nécropo­

sung, 131-133.

le archaïque de Trebenište", Archaeologia Iugoslavica V (1964), p. 39.

568

H O M A G E TO H1LJT1N G ARAS AN IN

THE E N G E L A N E S / E N C H E L E I S AND THE G O L D E N MASK.

dating (now in the Ashmolean Museum), is insufficient

Chalcidice (incerto loco)99, Vergina100, as well as Gorenci /

to prove the Greek origin of the golden masks funerary

Trebenište (see map). The first two findings from Gorenci

custom - in spite of N. Theodosiev arguing that it was

/ Trebenište had been accidental. The masks were discov­

adopted by the Engelanes after the alleged Boeotian-

ered in 1918, during military operations by the Bulgarian

Enchelean influx.90 Furthermore, we have the methodo­

army, which occupied this part of Macedonia; hence, their

logical faux pas of correlating the masks of Trebenište

current location is the Archaeological Museum in Sofia.101

culture with the masks from Mycenae91, despite the

Serbian archaeologist N. Vulić proceeded with archaeo­

enormous ethnic, cultural and chronological differences

logical excavations on the site from 1930 to 1934102; this

between them. The Mycenaean masks are older by no

yielded two more masks, currently in the National Mu­

less than a millennium; furthermore, they are attributed

seum in Belgrade.103 In 2002 - eighty-four years after the

to the Achaeans, a people with a social system and cul­

first findings - a team of excavators from the Museum of

ture vastly different from the classical population of the

Ohrid, led by archaeologist P. Kuzman, unearthed a rich

Peninsula, including the ancient Greeks.92

grave, containing another funerary mask, at the site of the

On the other hand, funerary masks or gold foliage

Samuilova fortress in Ohrid.104 Based on the fact that no

covering the eyes and the mouth of the deceased - a sort

funerary masks have been noted on Greek-inhabited terri­

of "reduced" masks, actually - have numerous attesta­

tory in Classical times, one can argue that the golden masks

tions on the entire territory of Macedonia - in Beranci

are not a trait of the Greek funerary cult. Another trait of

(Petilep) near Bitola93, Aiane94, Pella (still unpublished),

the Macedonian funerary ritual - the tripod for a posthu­

around Gevgelija95; in the south, following the Vardar

mous feast - is also unknown to classical Greek practice,

valley (Mikro Karaburnu, Chaushica, Zejtinlik)96 down

using only a funerary bed, the kline. These two traits - the

to Sindos (Tekelievo) near Salonica97, Amphipolis98,

funerary masks and the tripod - speak loudly in favour of two different sets of funerary customs.105 The funerary rit­ ual being one of the most important elements of religious

90 N. Theodosiev, "The dead with golden faces: Dassaretian, Pela-

practice - itself, besides language, the most important el-

gonian, Mygdonian and Boeotian funeral masks", Oxford Journal o f Archaeology 17.3 (1998), 355-6. Beside the dated references on Pelagonian origin and onomastics - described, in a nineteenth-century fash­ ion, as Thraco-Illyrian (p. 348-9) - there are further inaccuracies, e.g.

99 P. Amandry, op. cit., p.

the village Beranci is rendered as Beranats (p. 348).

100 Sole of golden sandals, in a grave dating from

Pl. XIX-XX

91 The Mycenaean origin being convincingly dismissed by V. Po-

101 B. Filow-Schkorpil, Die Archaische Nekropole von Trebenishte am

3 5 -6 ,

9

(Trilophon or Mesimer).

47C M 60

BC.

pović, "Les masques...", Archlug V (1965), 36-38; the author argues

Ochrida-See, Berlin-Leipzig,

that the custom of using funerary masks in Mycenae was actually

102 After the division of Macedonia among the four independent

adopted from Egypt via Crete. This theory is still advocated by some

Balkan states, most of the Ohrid region fell to the lot of the Kingdom

scholars, e.g. Lj. Konova, "The necropolis from Trebenište - studies

of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes;

and problems", Thracia II (1995), pp. 195,198.

103 H. Вулић, "Један нов гроб код Требеништа", Гласник Скоп-

1927.

22

villages were given to Albania.

p.

92 A number of Bulgarians scholars (A. Fol, M. Tačeva-Hitova) claim that

ског научног друштва XI (1932),

several elements of the Mycenaean culture still existed as a consequence

Требеништа", Споменик САН LXXVII (1933), 87-96 (103); Id„

1 sqq; Id., "Н о ви гробови код

of the Mycenaean-type society, itself existing at least until the sixth cen­

"Das neue Grab von Trebenischte", Arch. Anzeiger III/IV

tury BC (see Thracia 11 (1995), p. 195, n.) - a quite objectionable theory.

pp.

2 7 6 -2 7 9 ;

( 1 9 3 0 ),

Id., "Ein neues Grab bei Trebenischte", Jahreshefte d.

931. Mikulčić, "Pelagonien in lichte der archäologishen Funde", Sko-

Ost. Arch. Inst.

pje-Beograd 1966, zusamenfasung pp. 88-96, Pl. XII.

Trebenischte", Arch. Anzeiger

94 G. Karamitrou-Mentesidi, Aiani, Athens 1996, p. 37, im. 19.

archaïque de Trebenishte", Revue archéologique, 6e serie, 3 (1934), pp.

95 Three crumpled gold foils (two smaller and one larger, approx. 4

26-38, fig. 15, Pl. I, 1; B . Filov, "Le nouveau tombeau de Trebenište",

2 8 (1 9 3 2 ),

pp.

1 6 4 -1 8 6 , 1933,

pp.

fig.

1;

Id., "Neue Graber bei

4 5 9 -4 8 6 ;

Id., "La nécropole

x 6 cm) were found on a poorly preserved skull in grave 4 at the site

IBAI VII (1932/33), Sofia (résumé); Id., "Nouvelles trouvailles de

of Bišov Javor, between the villages of Smokvica and Marvinci (Ido-

Trebenište", IBAI VIII

menai) on the right bank of the Vardar. I was acquainted with this

in the Belgrade Museum, see Lj. Popović, "Catalogue des objets

(1 9 3 4 ),

Sofia (résumé); on the finds currently

unpublished discovery by my colleague, Boban Huseinovski from

découverts près des Trebenište au Musée Nationale de Belgrade",

the Museum in Gevgelija. My sincere gratitude goes to him.

Antika I

96 P. Amandry, Collection H. Stathatos, les bijoux antiques, Strasbourg

Monténégro), Musée National - Belgrade, fasc.

1953, p. 39.

8 nos

97 This necropolis has also been published partially. From the total

104 Still unpublished, except for articles in the daily press.

(1 9 5 6 );

1 -3 ,

Pl.

11,

Lj. Popović, Corpus vasorum Antiquorum (Serbie et nos

1,

Belgrade,

2004,

Pl.

1 -2 .

number of 121 graves, a published catalogue presented representa­

105 These traits of utmost importance were indicated by the promi­

tive objects from only 36 graves; see the catalogue of the exhibition,

nent French scholar Claude Rolley after the discovery of the Sindos

ΣΙΝΔΟΣ, Athens 1985.

necropolis, cf. Cl. Rolley, "D u nouveau sur la Macédoine antique",

9S D. Lazaridis, Amphipolis, Athenai 1993, p. 73-75 (in Greek).

Archeologia 188 (1984), p. 37.

H OM A G E TO MI LU TI N GAR.AŠANIN

569

N A D E P R OE V A

ement for determining the ethnic stock of the tribes - it

of a certain custom is a methodologically unacceptable

becomes clear that the Engelanes were a tribe of Macedo­

practice; even more, in this case, instead of helping to

nian origin.

the solution of the problem, it even worsens the situa­

The purpose of the masks was funerary106; in more spe­

tion.111 Therefore, it seems that the most logical - and,

cific terms, the funerary cult involved covering the deceased

accordingly, the most acceptable - interpretation is the

(especially the revealed parts of the body: the face, the

one of convergent customs, i.e. an independent, conver­

palms, the feet, etc.) with masks, gloves, sandals, rhomboid

gent solution to a similar or an identical problem, occur­

gold leaflets, with the apotropaeic capacity of gold in mind.

ring on territories or in habitats with minimum chance

Many interpretations on the origin of this practice have so

of contact. In ancient Egypt, golden masks covered the

far been put forth. V. Popović argues that the custom of fu­

faces of the most powerful and the wealthiest members

nerary foliating was Egyptian, adopted in Mycenae - but

of the society - the deified pharaohs; in Macedonia - not

also in Macedonia - via Crete in the times of Cretan thalas-

only in the Ohrid region - gold covered the bodies of the

socracy (ninth to seventh century BC)107 and spreading in

most prominent members of the community, the local

the interior along the Via Egnatia. Concerning the adop­

chieftains from the sixth and fifth centuries BC - before

tion of an Egyptian practice in Mycenae, this hypothesis is

the unification of the kingdom by the most powerful lo­

convincing enough, having in mind the closely dated finds

cal dynasty, the Argeadai.

as well as the rarity of Mycenaean golden masks - possi­ bly no more than a highly fashionable trend, as the author has well noted.108 However, the hypothesis is unfitting to NADE PROEVA

the situation in Macedonia due to the enormous chrono­

Faculty of Philosophy

logical gap and the continuously growing number of finds.

University of SS Cyril and Methodius

Not only are the funerary mask findings in Macedonia

nproeva@hotmail.com

the most numerous in the Balkan Peninsula, but the context of their discovery - the funerary ritual, the grave constructions, the funerary material - remains the same in every occasion, a fact that clearly points to the origin of this custom.109 We can conclude by stressing that making use of traits from communities remote in time and territory, thorn out of the context110, in order to give interpretation

& I. Mikulčić, The icon of king Dropion, M acedoniae Acta Archaeologica 11 (1987-89), 1990, pp. 103-109, summary p. 110) appeared among collectors in Skopje under suspicious circumstances; al­ though bought by collectors, it has never been set on show by the Archaeological Museum in Skopje because of subsequent informa­

106 A signification of rank can certainly not be dismissed; it should

tion about a possible forgery. The experts from the Museum have

not, however, be given primary importance.

later come across and inspected an identical object in possession of

107 P. Amandry, op. cit. 36-40; V. Popović, in Starinar XV-XVI

the same collectors - a strong argument against the authenticity of

(1964/65), p.23-28; Id., Archlug V, 1964, p. 3 2 ^ 4 , in particular p. 38;

both "finds"; one should add the unintelligible lower part of the

R. Vasić, in Praistorija jugoslavenskih zemalja, p. 732.

inscription. Having all this in mind, the arguments of Theodosiev

108

y Popović, Archlug V, 1964, p.38.

(op. cit., p. 357) in favour of alleged Paeonian words have to be dis­

109 N. Theodosiev dos not find this argument solid enough to at­

missed as arbitrary.

tribute the necropolis to the Macedonians (N. Theodosiev, AOJ,

111 These improbable analogies have probably puzzled even the au­

1998, p. 353); this is, in the mildest of terms, a curious position,

thor himself (N. Theodosiev), who does not seem to have a particu­

probably aimed at proving the Thracian origin not only of the cus­

lar, integrated opinion. Thus, concerning the masks from the Balkan

tom, but also of the tribes dwelling in Macedonia (p. 354). The au­

Peninsula, he allows Celtic, Etruscan and Achaemenid influence

thor goes on to claim that non-Greek Pelasgians and Thracians were

(op. cit. p. 360). N. Theodosiev has written once more on this prob­

assimilated by Boeotian newcomers, thus making the custom Thra­

lem (OJA 19.2 (2000), pp. 175-210), concluding that these cultural

cian. Theodosiev goes even further in speculating that the Boeotian

traits "were not signs of specific ethnicity and particular tribal iden­

mask, dating from the seventh or sixth century BC by his opinion,

tity... but testify to the strong interrelations and interaction between

could even belong to a Thracian aristocrat (p. 356).

ethnically different people, who inhabited these Northern Balkan

110 Thus, N. Theodosiev, OJA 17/3 (1998), pp. 345-364, using Etrus­

lands in antiquity" (p. 204). The same opinion, although in a more

can, Celtic, Cretan, Mycenaean and Luristani examples, incompat­

constrained manner, is expressed by Lj. Konova (Thracia 11 (1995),

ible analogies with votive golden panel applications, and, lastly, an

p. 202); the author formulates a new designation - "Thraco-Mac-

enormous time span going from Minoan to Roman times. An al­

edonian" and "Thraco-Illyrian" - for the region of Trebenište, fol­

leged mask, bearing an inscription of king Dropion (V. Sokolovska

lowing, however, a rather erroneous and surpassed denomination.

570

HOMAGE TO MILUTIN GARAŠANIN