Religious beliefs of the Illyrians until the advent of Christianity

Abstract

Religious performances in the ancient civilization of Illyria represent an interesting and challenging fi eld of study. The Illyrians were the autochthonous inhabitants of this area, and their origin and ethnic identity still cause great attention among scientists. This people with a complex origin, which is considered a mixture of Mediterranean, Indo-European and autochthonous cultures of Southeast Europe, abounds in rich religious symbols. The Illyrians left a significant mark in their religious ceremonies and symbolism that influenced the development of many later religious systems and cultures in this area. In this paper, we investigate the religious performances of the Illyrians until the advent of christianity, focusing on various aspects of their religious practices, beliefs and rituals. Totemism, a form of belief in spiritual beings, was dominant in Illyrian religion. Sacred symbols and animals such as snakes and deer were of crucial importance, manifesting themselves through the artistic and artifactual expressions of ancient Illyrian culture. Illyrian religion was a synergy of diverse religious beliefs, which included heliolatry, a cult of sun worship that played a significant role in Illyrian sanctuaries. Gods and goddesses, agricultural gods, war gods, fertility gods like the Great Mother Goddess, were key elements in their rituals. mithraism, which developed on the soil of Illyricum during the period of Roman domination, emphasized the mystical aspects of the faith. These elements of Illyrian religiosity survived into the first centuries of christianity, often interacting with the new religion. Moreover, the burial rituals of the dead were of great importance to the Illyrians, with elaborate rites confirming a deep connection with the world of the dead. The practice of burying the dead sheds light on the Illyrian idea of life after death and their view of the spiritual world. In the continuation of this introductory paper, with regard to these key concepts, the goal is to examine the deeper layers of Illyrian religiosity and its influence on later periods. With an effort to unravel the mystery of Illyrian spirituality, I will carefully deal with each individual topic.