PROGRAMME AND ABSTRACTS - Università degli Studi di Messina

Ina Wunn, University of Bielefeld, Germany
Religion of ancient Malta
144
New excavations at Malta and Gozo led to an increase of knowledge about island societies in
general, about early settlements, temples and burial sites and therefore allow insight into the
complex ritual customs of the late Neolithic and Eneolithic societies of those islands, but up to
now the meaning of the obese statues and figurines that dominate so impressively Maltese
religious ikonology could not be deciphered. As a result, the statues are still seen as images of
a mother-goddess dominating the Maltesian cosmos. This fast-at-hand-interpretation is missing
the point, taking neither the archeological context into consideration, nor having regard to the
historical development of Neolithic religions. With regard to the point of view mentioned
above, the missing female sexual attributes remain as problematic as the non-definite
iconography of the specimens. The difficulties can be solved if the artifacts are discussed with
regard to their archaeological and historical context (method of art history; sensu Aby
Warburg), especially with regard to the development or evolution of the various Neolithic
religions. To make things absolutely clear: Neolithic idols and statues have to be seen in a
wider historical context as exemplified by the history of religions.
Anna B.Yudkina, Moscow State University, Russia
The Bridge Symbol in Contemporary Russian Wedding Tradition
Wed 16 th , 11.20, Classroom Aula Magna
Matrimony is still one of the most significance spheres of human life. It’s accompanied by
huge number of traditions and rites whether we’re speaking about secular or church marriage.
The paper will analyze situation in Contemporary Russia. I offer three-part classification of
wedding traditions and rites. The first is really new traditions without any analogues in the past
(e.g., to fix a lock on the bridge as a sign of an eternal love and strong family). The second
group is the Soviet heritage: secular rites that replaced church ceremony (call of the civic
monuments, including the cenotaphs and the city sights). Third traditions have deep roots in
the past; they have been transformed over many epochs and still exist in the live folk practice.
This paper will investigate this issue focusing on questions concerning the meaning of the
Bridge symbol in wedding ceremony on the background of the ethnographical material.
Adolfo Zavaroni, independent scholar, Italy
Divinità nord-umbre invocate nel Bellum Sociale in funzione antiromana
Wed 16 th , 16.20, Classroom 12
Nella Valle di Ospitale dell’alto Appennino modenese, sono recentemente (2007) tornate alla
luce numerose iscrizioni rupestri in una linea definibile come nord-umbro. Esse risalgono
certamente al primo periodo (91-90 a. C.) del bellum sociale e furono incise da rivoluzionari
ribellatisi ai Romani. Infatti la maggior parte delle iscrizioni incita alla rivolta contro Roma.
Quindi alcune di esse affermano che gli dèi sono favorevoli alla vittoria dei ribelli. Il dio più
importante e più menzionato era certamente Drumbos (nom. Drums), corrispondente al Lugus
gallico ed al Turms etrusco. Egli è il dio che presiede ai cicli universali ed ai mutamenti in
genere. In altri termini è un dio ‘Rotante’ come l’arcaico Vertumnus ed è pure un conduttore di
anime. Suoi epiteti sono Ilamos ‘Colui che volge’ e Comba (