He says that he expects that the diatreta should be exhibited in the Native Museum as soon as next year.
"We are preparing a modern archaeological exhibition that will later become a permanent archaeological exhibition. We plan to open it for visitors in the fall. In that room we will leave a place for the diatreta. Beforehand, we have to complete the project of physical and technical protection of the museum, which we will most likely do in the fall. We'll see how much it costs. We already have a vision of where it will stand. We planned to implement the project during the next year", said Banović for "Vijesti".
The Pljeval diatreta, Banović points out, is one of the most beautiful diatretas and represents one of the most valuable movable cultural assets of Montenegro.
"Diatreta was used on festive occasions. She was like the queen of the evening at the table of a powerful lord or the emperor himself. It was made to show beauty, to testify to opulence. In addition to its primary, practical purpose, that expensive cup was also a reflection of belonging to a certain class. Its aesthetic dimension is also very important because it reflects the lifestyle, taste and fashion of an era. And then, after many feasts at which it was presented, the diatreta was buried together with its owner. According to the way of decoration, two groups of diatres can be distinguished: diatres with a figural representation, the most famous of which is the so-called Lycurgus cup, which is kept today in the British Museum in London, and net diatres, which are considered the most aesthetically perfect and with which the decor in the form of a fine net includes the whole court. There are several types of mesh diatrets, and they differ in the richness of the meshes of the same decoration. The most perfect have an inscription on the neck of the court. The inscription below the rim usually expresses a wish or saying written in Greek or Latin. Names are less often found on diatretas, as is the case on the diatreta of Komin, with the name Panelenija", said Banović.
Color intact
Komin diatreta, he points out, belongs to the group of netted and perfectly made, and there are four or five of them in the world.
He emphasizes that it has never been restored and that it has its original, almost two-millennia-old paint.
"It consists of a bell-shaped goblet made of airy colorless glass and a cobalt blue net that freely wraps around the goblet in three rows of rings. The letters written above the grid are the same color as the grid, although the inscription is not connected to the grid, but stands free and consists of 19 letters. One letter 'O' is damaged, and the last missing letter is most likely the letter 'M' (emoria). The inscription reads: VIVAS PANELNI BONA (Paneleni for memory). The height of the diatreta is 14,9 cm; opening diameter 13,3; base 3,7 cm. It can be dated to the XNUMXth and the beginning of the XNUMXth century AD, and the place of production is the famous Cologne workshops. The net and the cup are of one piece. After dipping the core in paint and cooling, the glass was ground with wheels of various shapes and sizes, so that a net was obtained, which is the basis, i.e. core, connected by glass pillars. Diatrets are not only a technical curiosity, but, due to the perfect virtuosity with which the grinding wheel is guided, they also represent an artistic achievement. So far, a small number of diatretas have been discovered, and only a few of them have been completely preserved. Diatreta was found in necropolis two in a large tomb consisting of several chambers and chambers. She was found in a lead sarcophagus. The tomb was robbed a long time ago, but the robbers missed this precious find placed next to the right shoulder of the deceased," said Banović.
Banović points out that diatret masters were under the special protection of the Roman emperors and had preferential treatment.
"In their lifetime, they could only do one or two diatres. The discovery of the Komin diatreta, as one of the few completely preserved in the world, was a sensation in scientific circles. It still represents one of the most valuable movable cultural assets of Montenegro," said Dr. Banović.
In scientific literature, the name of the ancient settlement in Komin is known as Municipium S.
"Regarding the city of Komin, as one of the most important in this part of Dalmatia, and its economic rise, significant data are also provided by the rich findings discovered during the research of two large necropolises. Numerous glass objects testify to the developed trade relations with other parts of the Empire, while the economic power of the city's population is best documented by the find of expensive diatre. Expensive examples of gold and silver jewelry, as well as silver and bronze fibulae of different types come from near or far from the city and it is assumed that they later reached the interior through trade. Tombstones, most of which have characteristics of provincial art, imbued with Illyrian-Celtic tradition, monumental tombs and ash boxes, made of stone from a nearby hill, indicate a highly developed stone-cutting craft in the area of the city, while finds of numerous urns, cups and bowls testify to ceramic production in Komin", said Banović.
The fountain in Pljevlja, which was put into operation last year, was made in the form of a diatre, that is, its metal part, according to the conceptual solution of young architects Tamara Manojlović and Nebojša Stanković.
Research is still ongoing, tourism valorization is awaited
Banović states that the significant results of the study of the Komini site were achieved by systematic archaeological research from 1964 to 1967 and from 1970 to 1975.
"Already the first investigations have shown that these are two large necropolises. Necropolis I included 390 graves of cremated deceased who were densely buried in no particular order, at a short distance from each other. Graves are generally in the form of a circular pit without urns or with ceramic urns surrounded by a stone wreath. Part of the graves with stone urns for the ashes of the cremated deceased are grouped together in one place with expensive items such as gold and silver jewelry. On the basis of epigraphic monuments and discovered archaeological material, it can be assumed that Necropolis I was created during the first century by a non-Romanized native population, while the discovery of one tomb on the periphery indicates that burials in this necropolis continued in the first half of the third century. Necropolis II included 295 graves, one part of which contained cremated deceased without significant differences compared to the graves from Necropolis I, while graves with inhumed deceased were discovered in ten monumental tombs and grave structures with superstructure monuments of various shapes and decorations. points out the director of the Native Museum.
After the city's necropolises were thoroughly explored, archaeological research at this location was suspended in 1975. The first archaeological research in the city itself was only carried out in 2007 and 2008 and was carried out in cooperation with the local museum, the Archaeological Collection of the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade and the Republic Institute for the Protection of Monuments. culture from Cetinje.
"These archeological investigations, followed by additional geophysical investigations, confirmed the assumption that the remains of a Roman city are located in this area. The Center for Conservation and Archeology of Montenegro started the latest research in the city itself in 2017 and 2018. On that occasion, the city walls and the remains of several buildings appeared. There are realistic expectations that in the next stages of research, the remains of buildings located in the center of the city will be revealed, as well as that, with adequate conservation work, conditions will be created for the gradual presentation of the site and its further touristic valorization," says Banović.
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