The bronze tablet of Agnone, measuring 28x16,5 centimetres, with an handle at
very top, is today preserved in the British Museum of London. It is by far the most important inscription in oscan language after the Abellano's boundary stone and the Tabula Bantina much larger in size, going back to 250 b.C. according to the way the letters of the alphabet were
written. Legible and deeply carved are the inscriptions found on both
sides, the first one containing 25 rows, the other 23. |
| | An holy enclosure where religious ceremonies in honor to the goddess Ceres took pace is being described onto the first side. The inscription also tells that within that sacred compound every two years would take place a special
ceremony on the altar of the fire. It continues saying that every year
during the Floralia season they should offer sacrifices to four
different gods. This side of the tablet just depicts the religious
aspect, the rules and the dates to be observed. The other side instead, clearly states which santuary and divinity to offer prayers within the outdoor compounds after removing the icons from the regular temple. The "Saahtum Tefurum" must be within the fire's area. Then it goes
on describing that only those paying regular dues were to be admitted to
the sanctuary, it lists an inventory of items pertaining to the
sanctuary, the name of the congregants and the directory of those in
charge. This small wooded area close to the village of Agnone would have
been located in the proximity of the Cerro' mountain, between Capracotta
and Agnone (loc. Fonte del Romito), where just about a century ago this tablet was found by Mommsen. The local slang language called it "Uorte" or kitchen-garden, from the latin name Hortus and Horz sculped onto the tablet. As mentioned before, this particularly holy place was dedicated to the goddess Ceres and people paid dues for its upkeep.
On special dates processions took place where as special stops were made on each of the fifteen altars within the holy garden. Every two years a symbolic fire was begun for special offerings. Outside this garden, special offerings were made to goddess Flora and other divinities. All together, the tablet of Agnone mentions 17 gods proving the Samnites' poli-worshiping dedication. All these Gods were linked to the agriculture, the harvest and the fruits as it is underlined by the word Kerriais or Cere-als.
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Following are those gods mentioned in the tablet:
Kerres - Ceres whom the holy place was dedicated to; Vezkei Evklui - Mercury or Ades,Jupiter's brother; Futrei Kerriiai - Persephones, Demetra's daughter; Anter Statai - Stata Mater (Marsicans' mother); Ammai Kerriiai - Demetra; Diumpais Kerriiais - Nymphs of the Springs; Liganakdikei Entrai - Agriculture's God; Anafriis Kerriiuis - Rain's Nymphs; Maatuis Kerriiuis - Italic god of the crops' dew; Diuvei Verehasiui - Giove Virgator; Diuvei Regaturei - Giove Pluvio; Hereklui Kerriiui - Hercules; Patanai Piistiai Deivai Genetai - Mana Geneta; Pernai Kerriiai Fluusai - Germitation's Patroness.
Above all, major importance is being given to Kerres or Ceres. The holy place where these religious functions took place were all dedicated to
this goddess and all the other Olympus' gods venerated by the
Samnites. All of them, with Ceres at the very top, had to be honored and
invoked for their propitious help in safeguarding the earth and its
fruits. So that Ceres was the pivotal deity of all the religious
activities taking place in this "holy garden" a rather sacred place
fully representing the religious awe the inhabitants had for the
agriculture. It is not by a coincidence this tablet made of bronze, a
special metal used in honor to the Ceres the goddess, was uncovered in
the proximity of what today is called Cerro' Mountain or Ceres' Mountain. |
 | History of Samnites and Samnium, the ancient people of Italy - Davide Monaco - Isernia 2001 |  |
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