Original scientific paper
Two examples of architectonic decoration in pilaster form from Jader and Enona
Dražen Maršić
orcid.org/0000-0003-4582-7792
; Department of Archaeology, University of Zadar, Zadar, Croatia
Martina Dubolnić Glavan
orcid.org/0000-0003-1202-896X
; The Institute for Historical Sciences of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zadar, Zadar, Croatia
Abstract
The paper discusses two elements of Roman architectonic decoration – in pilaster (Enona) and demi-pilaster (Jader) form, which show evident resemblance in their iconographic and stylistic characteristics. They are both decorated by acant climber, which – growing from a turf (chalice) – forms a set of medallions, while a live world of erots, birds, insects and reptiles fills the space between the staples and the medallions. The main iconographic equivalences are demonstrated in the presence of a nest with an erot in the upper left corner and the motive of an erot straddling or holding the caught animal with both hands; in a technological-stylistic equivalence in the manner of using a drill and the realisation of the margin profile in the form of Lesbian kymation reminding of scissors (Scherenkymation), with three drilled little holes positioned in the centre of every leaf and around the tongues. The comparative analysis of rare provincial examples of architectonic sculpture with scissor kymation, examples of gravestones with this and other kymation types – especially those dated late 1st and early 2nd century – as well as an architectonic decoration iconographically and stylistically comparable to the one of Roman cities, shows that these elements ought to be dated late 2nd or early 3rd century, i.e. that they most probably belong to the Severan era. Both elements are, beyond any doubt, parts of the decoration of monumental public buildings.
Keywords
Zadar (Jader); cathedral; Nin (Enona); architectonic decoration; pilaster; acant; Scherenkymation
Hrčak ID:
148884
URI
Publication date:
2.12.2015.
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