Ritual Inscriptions from Uzundara

Abstract

The paper presents three Greek votive graffiti from the excavations of citadel of Fortress Uzundara (Uzbekistan) and describes their archaeological context. This fortress is located on the North-West Border of Ancient Bactria, and represents the crucial point in the tens–kilometers long borderline fortification system in this area. It is built at altitude of 1700 meters above the sea level. The fortress stands on the narrow (220 meters) neck between the precipitous walls of the natural boundary Kara-Kamar and the canyon Uzundara, and locks the pass for the equestrian troops intent to bypass the borderline wall of Darband in 7 kilometers northward. It consists of the principal rhomboid castle, a detached and adjacent triangular citadel, same sections of the external walls, and of three external towers. The main goal of this fortress was the warning of the sudden attack of nomads from the Karshin steppes. A military garrison was stationed in the Uzundara fortress – a Seleucid frurion in the first quarter of the 3rd century BC. Apparently at this time it consisted of Macedonians and Greeks. This is clearly evidenced by archaeological materials, including epigraphic ones. We analyze three artefacts voted to Demeter of the Mountains and the Borderline, Zeus–Mitra, and Zoroastrian Deity Srosh. The most complete inscription – votive to Demeter – persists on the three fragments of tagora (luterium) which could be used for the ritual ablution. They were founded in different years and in different places around the ovoid cellar on the rocky complex of the citadel Uzundara.