Osječki zbornik, Vol. Vol. 27 No. xx, 2004.
Original scientific paper
Two bronze sculptures from Vinkovci
Ivana Iskra-Janošić
; Gradski muzej Vinkovci
Abstract
Among numerous archaeological items of the City Museum in Vinkovci there are two outstanding bronze sculptures. Small bronze plastic sculptures emerged with legionaries and Roman influence in the 1st century. Later on they were made at local workshops placed at centres with mints ( Siscia, Sirmium). The workshops in the area between the Sava and the Drava existed in Roman towns Mursa, Cibalae, Siscia. The existence of the so called suspended Eros statues and how feathers were depicted confirm that these workshops were active in Mursa and Cibalae. Since this bronze sculpture dates back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries the workshops started to function in this border area of Pannonia Inferior rather early. The sculptures that are dealt with in this article can be ascribed to local workshops.
A very beautiful little sculpture depicts a round-based man figure, bold on his tophead, his hair framing the face with his moustache and a very curly beard slightly parted in the middle. There are visible gilding
traces on its surface but it is difficult to determine where it could have been. According to the analogies we conclude that the sculpture depicts Socrates and since it was made in style dating back to the period of Hadrian we can date it to the 2nd century.
Another bronze sculpture with a fine green round patina depicting Medusa within a wider ring. The sculpture was cast and put through final processing stages. It depicts a young female face with strong eyebrows and emphasized eyes. Her nose is flat and slightly sagging lips are giving away a typical cold impression. The face is framed by thick wavy hair on the tophead ending with two wings and two snake heads looking downwards, a snake head on the top of her head; snake body appears below its chin. Analogies and samples of Roman import it can be dated back to the 2nd century; these bronze items show what the local workshops had been able to produce, what taste the population had had and their life prosperity had been.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
163548
URI
Publication date:
6.12.2004.
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