Original scientific paper
Fragment of a Stele Presenting a Young Man of the Constantine Époque
Nenad Cambi
Abstract
Fragment of a very important stele presenting a man's head was found during excavations of the Salona's Western Necropolis of 1986-1987. It has been published in neither reports or a separate publication. Now, quarter of a century later, the time has come for the fragment to be published, because of it importance in development of the Roman art of portrait and tombstones of the later period (4th century). The paper determines monument and portrait typology and chronology. The hairstyle is after that appearing on the Constantine's triumphal arch in Rome.
The portrait appearing on the Salonitan fragment is a reception of early Constantine's appearance and hairstyle that found their way also to this tombstone of a younger, but obviously relatively rich, man of Salona. At that time, between the years 308 an 313, any significant influence of the climate existing at the Constantine's court was quite unlikely. The influence became possible rather from the time when Constantine spread his rule to the territories previously under Galetius, once Constantine averted the Licinius' claiming of Panonia and Dalmatia.
The fragment of Salona, thus, testifies influences of the Constantine's court and courtiers to wider territories. This is a proof that at the time the workshops of Salona were still active and that they still produced stele, besides sarcophagi, still following the current social and political trends. Indeed, no conclusion can be made on whether the deceased was a Christian or a pagan, but it is certain he was close to the Constantine's views, who, at the time and in spite of the Edict of Milan of 313, was still ambiguous. On the other hand, this stele fragment indicates architectural forms not to have completely vanished, since they are shown here in their elementary form.
Keywords
young man; Constantine époque; stelai
Hrčak ID:
89539
URI
Publication date:
1.9.2012.
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