Zwei bronzene Acheloosmasken aus der hellenistischen Hafensiedlung Rhizon (Montenegro)

Abstract

Risan, known as Rhizon and Risinum in antiquity, is an Illyrian settlement, which came under the influence of the Hellenistic culture as early as the 4^th/3^rd century BC. After the fall of the last Illyrian king it came under Roman control and was finally incorporated into the Roman Empire in the early 1^st century AD . The town has been consequently excavated since 2001. During the 2015 and 2016 campaigns in Risan, two large testing trenches were explored at an area labelled Carine VIII. The 2015 campaign revealed very interesting architectural features, including the threshold of a door in a monumental wall, interpreted as a mansion-like edifice of the local Illyrian aristocracy. The 3^rd century BC is the tentative dating for the entire complex. The impressive number of high quality artefacts reflects the sophisticated nature of the principal building. Among the finds two solid bronze handles stand out. These grasping handle attachments were fitted to a wooden container, probably some sort of cauldron, with nails and adorned with two different depictions of the Greek god Acheloos.