Sanctuary of Vidasus

There is debate amongst historians as to the cultural significance of the Illyrian god, Vidasus. Some argue that he was a local deity who watched over the areas around Topuska and its people. This argument is based on the fact that nearly all of the reliefs depicting Vidasus and his divine consort Thana have been discovered in and around that area. However, the proximity of these findings to temples honouring the Roman god Silvanus and his wife Diana indicate that the Romans considered the two pairs to be aspects of the same divine being. Silvanus watched over the woods, fields and flocks, ensuring the fertility of the soil and its inhabitants, making him much beloved of those who worked the land. Both Silvanus and Vidasus had a large number of altars dedicated to them in the Topuska region, so clearly they were considered to be of great importance by the local people.