Where Different Waters Met: Aspects on the Apollo Grannus vase and its position near Sagån in the province of Västmanland

Lotta Fernstål

doi:10.37718/csa.2003.02

Abstract

At some time during the Late Roman Iron Age, an originally provincial-Roman vessel called the Apollo Grannus vase was used as a burial urn in a stone-setting at Fycklinge in the province ofVästmanland, on the bank of Sagån by the small rapids where this stream met the sea. In an attempt to understand why this particular vessel was used in this way at this particular place, the author discusses the characteristics ofthe area, of certain vessels and their associations with rebirth/regeneration, the provincial-Roman god Apollo Grannus (associated with fertility and water), the process of creolization, and cremation as part of a process of transformation.

Highlights

Sagån by the small rapids where this stream met the sea
The earliest writings about the find in the Antiquarian-Topographical Archives (ATA) reveal that the Apollo Grannus vase had been used as a burial urn in a stone-setting constructed beside or around a stone boulder
If we once again tum to the earliest sources concerning the Apollo Grannus vase, this approximate area can be narrowed down to the northwest corner of a modern garage and, near this corner, the remains of a foundation of a cottage which once belonged to Lundström who found the vase, possibly while he was building this same cottage (ATA d)

Summary

Lotta Fernstål

At some time during the Late Roman Iron Age, an originally provincialRoman vessel called the Apollo Grannus vase was used as a burial urn in a stone-setting at Fycklinge in the province ofVästmanland, on the bank of. Key words; Late Roman Iron Age, Västmanland, Sagån, the Apollo Grannus vase, creolization, fertility, burial, cremation, borderland, water. The vessel has a Latin inscription mentioning the presumed provincial-Roman god Apollo Grannus, and it is often called the Apollo Grannus vase (SHM 425) (Fig. 1) The contents of this Roman Iron Age-vessel consisted of fragments of cremated bones and pieces of melted glass (e.g. Hallenberg 1819:80) in the colours white, green and brown, as well as possible remains of glass beads and a glass cup. The material from ATA indicates that the grave was situated at one of the highest points of the banks

Loua Fernstå I

IPS IVS

Lotta Fernstat

CREMATION AS PART OF A PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION

THE BORDERLAND AS A POINT OF DEPARTURE

THE RAPIDS AS A RESULT OF CREOLIZATION

Findings

Loua Fernsiå I