Vladimir Sazonov
University of Tartu, Centre for Oriental Studies, Faculty Member
- Ancient History, Military History, Ancient Near East (Archaeology), Persian Literature, Hittitology, Sumerian & Akkadian literature, and 59 moreUgaritic Language, Sumerology, Assyrian Empire, Middle East Studies, Ancient Iran, Iran Archaeology, History of Iran, Shahnameh, Gilgamesh Epic, Akkadian, Neo-Assyrian studies, Babylonian Wisdom Literature, Akkadian Literature, History of Religious Concepts, Neo-Babylonian period, Louvre cuneiform documents, Arabic Language and Linguistics, Arabistik, Iranistik, Turkey, Mycenaean era archaeology, Sassanid coins, Sassanid Empire, Ancient Near East, Ancient Religion, Assyriology, Oriental Studies, Sumerian Religion, Assyria, Ancient Near Eastern Studies, Middle Assyrian period, Mesopotamia, History, Religion, Mythology, Folklore, Hittites, Persia, Iran, Troy Studies, Anatolian Archaeology, Homer, Neo-Sumerian Studies, Akkadian Empire, Archaeology, Biblical Studies, Urartian language, Urartu, Middle Assyrian Empire, Sacred and divine kingship, Alexander the Great, Esarhaddon, Middle Assyrian administration, Middle Assyrian provinces, Middle Assyrian letters, The History of the Middle-Assyrian Kingdom / David Kertai, Russian Studies, Assyrian Propaganda, Behistun inscription, History of Elam, and Hittite Literatureedit
- Associate Professor in Ancient Near Eastern studies.edit
In this article, the authors examine the divine support and religious justification of wars by Anatolian and North Syrian rulers in the Late Bronze Age, an epoch of international diplomacy. Notable is that many wars and conflicts in the... more
In this article, the authors examine the divine support and religious justification of wars by Anatolian and North Syrian rulers in the Late Bronze Age, an epoch of international diplomacy. Notable is that many wars and conflicts in the region of Anatolia and North Syria took place in this period, which may have occasioned an increasing need to justify them by appeal to divinities.Peer reviewe
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by Vladimir Sazonov* and Sirje Kupp-Sazonov** * Senior Research Fellow in ANE Studies, Centre for Oriental Studies, University of Tartu, [email protected] ** Lecturer in Russian Language and Translation Studies, College of Foreign... more
by Vladimir Sazonov* and Sirje Kupp-Sazonov** * Senior Research Fellow in ANE Studies, Centre for Oriental Studies, University of Tartu, [email protected] ** Lecturer in Russian Language and Translation Studies, College of Foreign Languages and Cultures, University of Tartu, [email protected] M. Bulgakov, one of the most prominent Russian writers of the 20th c., began writing his most famous novel The Master and Margarita (M&M) in 1928 and continued to work on it until his death in 194..
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In recent years, the Russian Federation has increased its aggressive rhetoric and information campaigns against the Baltic states as they identify these countries among the most vulnerable part of the West, which may be potentially... more
In recent years, the Russian Federation has increased its aggressive rhetoric and information campaigns against the Baltic states as they identify these countries among the most vulnerable part of the West, which may be potentially handled by the Kremlin as a potential target audience for information and influence operations in their status conflict with the West. Moreover, the tools of information and influence operations of Russian Federation include all kinds of intimidation and manipulation techniques from cyber-attacks to political extortion among others. The research focuses on studying political influence Russia expectedly pursues through strategic narratives that find their way to reaching target audience. The research is primarily based on media analysis of Estonian media outlets in Estonian and Russian language and on structured interviews with various political figures and experts, opinion leaders, and representatives of Russophone community in Estonia.Probably the most f...
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This article analyses opportunities for the development of intercultural dialogue in the Middle East, home to several world religions. The spread of numerous ethnic, religious and cultural conflicts in this region has promoted the... more
This article analyses opportunities for the development of intercultural dialogue in the Middle East, home to several world religions. The spread of numerous ethnic, religious and cultural conflicts in this region has promoted the emergence of various radical movements there. The goal of this study is to determine the conditions under which it might be possible to achieve a breakthrough in the development of regional peace for these multicultural religions. This paper examines the impact of historical, religious and political processes on intercultural communication in the region and focuses on processes which have led to the development of the current situation in the Middle East with its escalation of extremism.
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The Russian Federation has managed to take the world by surprise: first, by conducting a successful rescue operation in support of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, and second, by having become an indispensable power broker in the wider... more
The Russian Federation has managed to take the world by surprise: first, by conducting a successful rescue operation in support of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, and second, by having become an indispensable power broker in the wider Middle Eastern region. As far as Syria is concerned, by the end of 2019, Assad’s regime had effectively been saved by Russia’s political and military support in the form of its direct intervention in the Syrian Civil War. Russia’s decisive action in this situation enhanced its status throughout the Middle East region. This article aims to ascertain to what extent has Russia’s conduct merely taken advantage of the vacuum left by the U.S. and the West, and to what extent can it be considered a premeditated and carefully considered plan that fits within Russia’s wider strategic objectives. First, the authors will take a closer look at the strategic assumptions that have enabled Russia to enhance its status in the region, focusing in particular on those...
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The aim of the current article is to provide analysis of information operations of the Russian Federation performed against the Ukrainian state and defence forces from 1 April until 31 December 2014. Russia uses ideological, historical,... more
The aim of the current article is to provide analysis of information operations of the Russian Federation performed against the Ukrainian state and defence forces from 1 April until 31 December 2014. Russia uses ideological, historical, political symbols and narratives for justifying and supporting their military, economic and political campaigns not only in Donbass but in the whole of Ukraine. The article concentrates on the various means of meaning-making carried out by Russian information operations regarding the Ukrainian state and military structures.
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ABSTRACT
The Russian Federation has developed a large number of instruments to put pressure on the West using non-conventional means such as cyber attacks, economic tools and information warfare. Using modern IT technologies in its hybrid... more
The Russian Federation has developed a large number of instruments to put pressure on the West using non-conventional means such as cyber attacks, economic tools and information warfare. Using modern IT technologies in its hybrid activities, Russia, much like China or other authoritarian powers, is trying to challenge the current world order. These instruments are particularly evident in the Baltic States. This article uses Estonia as a case study to inquire into the political goals and strategic conduct of Russia. Specifically, the focus is on the political context, instruments of information war, and available countermeasures. As argued in the current study, the shift from European to Eurasian power, Russia’s careful management and success in avoiding crossing the “red lines” of its adversaries, as well as in exploiting the socioeconomic weaknesses and openness of the West, all play a relevant role in understanding the political context. As for instruments, Russia has developed st...
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486 eKr) käsul loodud Behistuni bareljeef koos kolmekeelse raidkirjaga (DB) 1 väärib erilist tähelepanu. Raidkiri valmis ligikaudu 521-518 a eKr 2 ning see on märkimisväärne ja ainulaadne ajalooline allikas varajase Pärsia ajaloo... more
486 eKr) käsul loodud Behistuni bareljeef koos kolmekeelse raidkirjaga (DB) 1 väärib erilist tähelepanu. Raidkiri valmis ligikaudu 521-518 a eKr 2 ning see on märkimisväärne ja ainulaadne ajalooline allikas varajase Pärsia ajaloo mõistmiseks. Pole kahtlust, et Dareios I Behistuni raidkiri on väga tähtis ajalooline dokument kogu muistse Lähis-Ida aja-, kultuuri-ja usundiloo tundmaõppimisel (Sazonov 2016: 103). Raidkiri oli pandud kirja koguni kolmes Pärsia impeeriumi aladel tollal käibel olnud tähtsas kiilkirjakeeles-vanapärsia, akadi ja eelami. Mainimisväärt on kindlasti ka asjaolu, et DB raidkirja kolm erikeelset versiooni on sisu poolest praktiliselt täiesti identsed, välja arvatud mõni väiksem keeleline eripära.
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This chapter analyses the modern Russian narrative of the history of Estonia and Latvia as it is revealed in academic publications, popular science channels and propaganda from various media outlets. The authors discuss the dynamics of... more
This chapter analyses the modern Russian narrative of the history of Estonia and Latvia as it is revealed in academic publications, popular science channels and propaganda from various media outlets. The authors discuss the dynamics of the politicization and ideologization of Baltic past study, the transformation of historians into ‘mnemonic warriors’ (according to M. Bernhard and J. Kubik’s terminology) and the main actors of the Russian Federation’s official politics of memory. The article explores the media resonance of historical controversy and the use of history as a tool of informational and cognitive influence operations.
This paper focuses on the issue of the possible Ancient Near Eastern origins of famous Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov’s demonic characters, such as the vampire Hella (Gella), the cat-human Behemoth, and the demons Azazello and Abadonna... more
This paper focuses on the issue of the possible Ancient Near Eastern origins of famous Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov’s demonic characters, such as the vampire Hella (Gella), the cat-human Behemoth, and the demons Azazello and Abadonna from the novel The Master and Margarita. The nature of the members of Woland’s court have been analysed in several works; however, their roots are usually considered to go back to biblical times and context. Our aim is to try to shed some light on their possibly more ancient origins, since it is a well-known fact that Bulgakov was deeply interested in the Ancient Near East and used several of its elements in his novel. Therefore, in order to establish any potential Ancient Near Eastern impact on the essence of those characters, we need to look into Akkadian and Sumerian mythology and Mesopotamian religious texts (e.g., incantations).
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Contents: Introduction ; Russia’s Approach to Information Warfare ; Russia’s Influence on the Ukrainian Elections in 2014 and 2019 ; Propaganda and Disinformation ; Cyber-attacks and the Use of Technology to Spread Disinformation ;Support... more
Contents: Introduction ; Russia’s Approach to Information Warfare ; Russia’s Influence on the Ukrainian Elections in 2014 and 2019 ; Propaganda and Disinformation ; Cyber-attacks and the Use of Technology to Spread Disinformation ;Support to Ukraine from the international community ; An Example of Russia’s Attempt to Influence the European Parliament Elections in Germany ;The EU’s Response to Disinformation and Cyber-attacks ; Recommendations ; References
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This article is dedicated to the issues related to the King of the Four Corners and the God-King in ancient Sumer and Akkad in the 3rd millennium BCE. The author shows that the title King of the Four Corners has always deified the ruler,... more
This article is dedicated to the issues related to the King of the Four Corners and the God-King in ancient Sumer and Akkad in the 3rd millennium BCE. The author shows that the title King of the Four Corners has always deified the ruler, but the ruler who used the title King of the Universe never claimed divinity. What conclusions can we draw? Except in two cases – the case of Erri-dupizir and the case of Utu-ḫeĝal – all kings who used the title king of the four corners were deified. Erri-dupizir was a foreigner, more a warlord or tribal chief of the Gutians than a king, but he tried to legitimate his power by using Akkadian-Sumerian formulas, among them royal titles. Utu-ḫeĝal freed Sumer from the Gutians’ yoke and re-introduced old Sumero-Akkadian ideological elements, among them the king of the four corners, because he wanted to be as powerful and strong as the Akkadian king Narām-Su’en, who was an example for Utu-ḫeĝal. We do not have any proof regarding the deification of Utu-ḫ...
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The Russian Federation has a wide arsenal of tools at its disposal for conducting information warfare to achieve its strategic objectives in the ongoing status conflict with the West. The active exploitation of conspiracy theories has... more
The Russian Federation has a wide arsenal of tools at its disposal for conducting information warfare to achieve its strategic objectives in the ongoing status conflict with the West. The active exploitation of conspiracy theories has thrived since pro-Kremlin forces started armed conflict against Ukraine in 2013–2014. This article focuses on the crash of Flight MH17, widely used by the Russian media to fabricate various conspiracy theories which make out that the West and Ukraine are responsible for the disaster. This study examines several Russian outlets and TV channels and concludes that the Russian media often used falsified stories and emotional rhetoric in narratives they spread about the crash of Flight MH17. The narratives used to create these conspiracy theories claim that the incident was a Western provocation attempting to generate hostility towards Russia. In disseminating these kinds of conspiracy theories, the pro-Kremlin media created distrust against the West and th...
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Modern military training exercises often include an information warfare component. Combat manoeuvres and weapon tests may be combined with large-scale information operations, including attempts at mass deception and cultivation of fear... more
Modern military training exercises often include an information warfare component. Combat manoeuvres and weapon tests may be combined with large-scale information operations, including attempts at mass deception and cultivation of fear via strategic uses of narratives in media. The ways in which fear is constructed in strategic narratives deserve more detailed discursive analysis. In this article, the authors use the largest recent Russian war games on NATO’s eastern borders, the ‘Zapad 2017’ military exercise, as an example to show how to interpret fear narratives. They identify and analyse three strategic narratives that were formulated by Russian official spokespeople in relation to the exercise and uncover some of their underlying meaning-making tendencies: the logic of antithesis, affirmation through negation and the rhetoric of moral victimhood. Their analysis sheds new light on the uses of fear discourses that are more sophisticated and indirect than straightforward threats o...
Research Interests: Discourse Analysis, History, International Relations, Communication, Media Studies, and 15 moreCritical Discourse Studies, Narrative, Propaganda, Cultural Semiotics, Information Warfare, Political communication, Strategic Communication, Critical Discourse Analysis, Military Simulations and Training, Russia, Political Uses of Fear, Political Discourse, Public Diplomacy and Strategic Communication, Communication and media Studies, and Strategic Narratives
The current article examines four case studies of complex genealogies in Mesopotamia from the 3 and 2 millennia BCE. The first three case studies are focused on the complex genealogies used by 3 millennium BC kings in the Early Dynastic... more
The current article examines four case studies of complex genealogies in Mesopotamia from the 3 and 2 millennia BCE. The first three case studies are focused on the complex genealogies used by 3 millennium BC kings in the Early Dynastic Period III, in Lagaš II, and in the period of 3 Dynasty of Ur. The fourth case study deals with Assyrian king Tukultī-Ninurta I (1242–1206 BCE). Rezumat. Autorii examinează patru studii de caz al unor genealogii complexe din Mesopotamia din mileniile III–II a.Chr. Primele trei cazuri se concentrează pe genealogiile complexe folosite de regii din mileniul al III-lea a.Chr. în Epoca Dinastică Timpurie III, în Lagaš II, și în perioada celei de-a treia dinastii din Ur. Al patrulea studiu de caz se ocupă cu regele asirian Tukultī-Ninurta I (1242–1206 a.Chr.).
In this paper we show that the Mesopotamian goddess Nanāia had some attributes (such as 'warrior goddess' and 'sitting on a tiger/lion/standing with a lion/lions') which were preserved in her worship from the period of Ur III (the second... more
In this paper we show that the Mesopotamian goddess Nanāia had some attributes (such as 'warrior goddess' and 'sitting on a tiger/lion/standing with a lion/lions') which were preserved in her worship from the period of Ur III (the second millennium BC) in Mesopotamia up to the period of the Kuṣāṇas and Kūšānšāhs (from the 1 st century AD to the late 4 th century AD), and even up to the period of later Nomadic dynasties of Northern India, such as the Kidarites and Hephthalites (from the 4 th century AD to the 8 th century AD) in Central and South Asia. In later stages we detect early Hindu images of Nanāia presented as Durgā as well as early Hindu images of the divine couple Oešo and Nanāia presented as Umāmaheśvara. So, the standard Indian iconographic motif of Durgā could be traced back to the Mesopotamian goddess Nanāia. Rezumat. În cadrul prezentului articol dorim să demonstrăm că zeița mesopotamiană Nanāia avea unele atribute (precum cea de ,,războinică" și ,,șezând pe un tigru/leu" sau ,,alături de un leu/lei") ce au supraviețuit în cultul său din perioada Ur III (mileniul al II-lea î.Hr.) în Mesopotamia, până în perioada lui Kuṣāṇas și Kūšānšāhs (din primul secol d.Hr. până la finalul secolului al IV-lea d.Hr.), și chiar până spre dinastiile nomade târzii din nordul Indieii, precum cele ale Kidarites și a Hephtalites (din secolul al IV-lea d.Hr. până în cel deal VIII-lea d.Hr.) în Asia Centrală și de Sud. În încheiere observăm unele imagini hinduse timpurii ale zeiței Nanāia ce sunt prezentate ca fiind ale lui Umāmaheśvara. Astfel, motivul iconografic standard al lui Durgā poate fi urmărit până la originile sale, în reprezentările zeiței Nanāia.
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In this article, the authors examine the divine support and religious justification of wars by Anatolian and North Syrian rulers in the Late Bronze Age, an epoch of international diplomacy. Notable is that many wars and conflicts in the... more
In this article, the authors examine the divine support and religious justification of wars by Anatolian and North Syrian rulers in the Late Bronze Age, an epoch of international diplomacy. Notable is that many wars and conflicts in the region of Anatolia and North Syria took place in this period, which may have occasioned an increasing need to justify them by appeal to divinities. Rezumat. În acest articol, autorii analizează contribuția divină și motivarea religioasă a războaielor de către conducători anatolieni și din nordul Syriei în Epoca Târzie a Bronzului, o perioadă favorabilă diplomației internaționale. Un aspect notabil este faptul că multe din războaiele și conflictele din regiunea Anatoliei și a Syriei de Nord au avut loc în acest moment, ceea ce e posibil să fi creat o nevoie tot mai mare de a le justifica prin apelul la divinități.
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The aim of this paper is to show how Russian state policy abuses history to intervene in processes in Latvia by making accusations of the falsification of history. That will be done without going deeply into the research, either of the... more
The aim of this paper is to show how Russian state policy abuses history to intervene in processes in Latvia by making accusations of the falsification of history. That will be done without going deeply into
the research, either of the abuse of history by Russia to reach its foreign and domestic political goals in the broader sense, nor for domestic purposes, as in many cases, these are two outcomes that are both the
aim of such abuse of history. The article is designed to illuminate, in author’s opinion, the most important aspect of this abuse – the questioning of the legacy of the incorporation of Latvia into the USSR as, aside from historiographical discourse, it also provides a base for the restoration of the independence of Latvia in 1990 and thus, is inseparable from current constitutional and international legal realities.
the research, either of the abuse of history by Russia to reach its foreign and domestic political goals in the broader sense, nor for domestic purposes, as in many cases, these are two outcomes that are both the
aim of such abuse of history. The article is designed to illuminate, in author’s opinion, the most important aspect of this abuse – the questioning of the legacy of the incorporation of Latvia into the USSR as, aside from historiographical discourse, it also provides a base for the restoration of the independence of Latvia in 1990 and thus, is inseparable from current constitutional and international legal realities.
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Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 25/1 (August 2019) http://saa.uaic.ro/issues/xxv-1/ CUPRINS – CONTENTS – SOMMAIRE PAPERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE Genealogies in the Ancient World Tartu (Estonia)... more
Studia Antiqua et Archaeologica 25/1 (August 2019)
http://saa.uaic.ro/issues/xxv-1/
CUPRINS – CONTENTS – SOMMAIRE
PAPERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Genealogies in the Ancient World
Tartu (Estonia) 2016
—Sebastian FINK & Vladimir SAZONOV
——Introduction
—Sebastian FINK & Vladimir SAZONOV
——Complex Genealogies in Mesopotamia: From Mesilim to Tukultī-Ninurta I
—Siim MÕTTUS
——On the Lineage of King Telepinu
—Mait KÕIV
——Manipulating Genealogies: Pheidon of Argos and the Stemmas of the Argive, Macedonian, Spartan and Median Kings
—Jakub KUCIAK
——Der Mythos im Dienst der Politik: das Beispiel der euripideischen Tragödie Ion
—Stephan SCHARINGER
——A Genealogy of Pythagoras
—Tarmo KULMAR
——The Origin Myths as a Possible Basis for Genealogy of the Inca Imperial Dynasty in Ancient Peru
ARTICLES
—Radu-Ștefan BALAUR
——Community Structure, Economy and Sharing Strategies in the Chalcolithic Settlement of Hăbășești, Romania
—Casandra BRAȘOVEANU
——Settlement Spatial Distribution from Late Chalcolithic to Early Hallstatt. Case Study: Cracău-Bistrița Depression
—Anna LAZAROU
——Prehistoric Gorgoneia: a Critical Reassessment
—Alexandr LOGINOV & Vladimir SHELESTIN
——La perception du sceptre en Grèce de l’époque d’Homère et de Mycènes à la lumière des parallèles de l’Orient Antique
—Larisa PECHATNOVA
——Die Hypomeiones in Sparta
—Elena NIKITYUK
——Kalokagathia: to a Question on Formation of an Image of the Ideal Person in Antiquity and During Modern Time
—Maxim M. KHOLOD
——On the Representation and Self-representation of the Argead Rulers (before Alexander the Great): the Title Basileus
—Dragana NIKOLIĆ
——Stoneworkers’ Hercules. A Comment on an Upper Moesian Inscription
—José María ZAMORA CALVO
——Remarks on the so-called Plotinus’ Sarcophagus (‘Vatican Museums’, inv. 9504)
—Cornel BALLA
——Some Considerations on the Praefectus ripae legionis primae Ioviae cohortis et secundae Herculiae musculorum Scythicorum et classis in plateypegiis
—Felix-Adrian TENCARIU & Andrei ASĂNDULESEI
——‘Rock Salt Around the Clock’. Ethnoarchaeological Research Concerning Traditional Extraction of Salt for Animal Consumption
http://saa.uaic.ro/issues/xxv-1/
CUPRINS – CONTENTS – SOMMAIRE
PAPERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Genealogies in the Ancient World
Tartu (Estonia) 2016
—Sebastian FINK & Vladimir SAZONOV
——Introduction
—Sebastian FINK & Vladimir SAZONOV
——Complex Genealogies in Mesopotamia: From Mesilim to Tukultī-Ninurta I
—Siim MÕTTUS
——On the Lineage of King Telepinu
—Mait KÕIV
——Manipulating Genealogies: Pheidon of Argos and the Stemmas of the Argive, Macedonian, Spartan and Median Kings
—Jakub KUCIAK
——Der Mythos im Dienst der Politik: das Beispiel der euripideischen Tragödie Ion
—Stephan SCHARINGER
——A Genealogy of Pythagoras
—Tarmo KULMAR
——The Origin Myths as a Possible Basis for Genealogy of the Inca Imperial Dynasty in Ancient Peru
ARTICLES
—Radu-Ștefan BALAUR
——Community Structure, Economy and Sharing Strategies in the Chalcolithic Settlement of Hăbășești, Romania
—Casandra BRAȘOVEANU
——Settlement Spatial Distribution from Late Chalcolithic to Early Hallstatt. Case Study: Cracău-Bistrița Depression
—Anna LAZAROU
——Prehistoric Gorgoneia: a Critical Reassessment
—Alexandr LOGINOV & Vladimir SHELESTIN
——La perception du sceptre en Grèce de l’époque d’Homère et de Mycènes à la lumière des parallèles de l’Orient Antique
—Larisa PECHATNOVA
——Die Hypomeiones in Sparta
—Elena NIKITYUK
——Kalokagathia: to a Question on Formation of an Image of the Ideal Person in Antiquity and During Modern Time
—Maxim M. KHOLOD
——On the Representation and Self-representation of the Argead Rulers (before Alexander the Great): the Title Basileus
—Dragana NIKOLIĆ
——Stoneworkers’ Hercules. A Comment on an Upper Moesian Inscription
—José María ZAMORA CALVO
——Remarks on the so-called Plotinus’ Sarcophagus (‘Vatican Museums’, inv. 9504)
—Cornel BALLA
——Some Considerations on the Praefectus ripae legionis primae Ioviae cohortis et secundae Herculiae musculorum Scythicorum et classis in plateypegiis
—Felix-Adrian TENCARIU & Andrei ASĂNDULESEI
——‘Rock Salt Around the Clock’. Ethnoarchaeological Research Concerning Traditional Extraction of Salt for Animal Consumption