Le culte d’Hercule de Vicus Stramentarius à l’église de Sainte-Marie à Vico de Saint-Omero. Le contexte géographique

 = Paper = 

The church of S. Maria a Vico stands near the village of Sant’Omero in the province of Teramo, in the Abruzzo region. Outside the edifice, dating back to the year 1000, one can see traces of the ancient city of Palma and its “ager”. Inside, one can see the following inscription relating to the cult of Hercules, discovered in 1885, and which summary is: “For the services of the ‘mater/matron’ Claudia Edonia, for the anniversary of her son Imerio, the devotees of Hercules and their descendants who are inscribed in this marble after swearing on Jupiter Optimal and on the genius of Emperor Trajan, decide to set up a banquet in the temple of Hercules, every year on February 8, in honor of Emperor Trajan. If the celebrations cannot take place, they decide to pass, as a penalty, the sum of 200 sesterces to the lovers of Trajan image, always located in Vico Stramenticio”. The inscription, almost intact, presents text and images relating to the cult of Hercules which is witnessed in many places in Abruzzo. Even today, near the church of Sant’Omero, every year on February 8th, the event in honor of Claudia Edonia, her son and Emperor Trajan is celebrated in ways that recall the ancient.