Aleksandra Nikoloska - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Aleksandra Nikoloska

MONUMENTA 7/8, 2024

Additional considerations have been made on the Tikveš group of funeral stelae since the first at... more Additional considerations have been made on the Tikveš group of funeral stelae since the first attempt to redirect the general idea that these monuments marked resting places of pagans toward one to view them as the earliest Christian sepulchral evidence in the region. This was done mainly by comparing them to the Early Christian funeral iconography on monuments from Isaura Nova / Lycaonia where Early Christian activity was well documented. For this study, besides considering new unpublished funeral stelae from the Tikveš region, and also some new comparative material, we examine the material and historical context as well as Christian influence in the region.

Contextualizing 'Oriental' cults. New Lights on the Evidence between the Danube and the Adriatic, 2024

During the 2021 excavations carried out at the Agora, in the area of the Temple of Tyche, in Styb... more During the 2021 excavations carried out at the Agora, in the area of the Temple of Tyche, in Styberra by the National Institute and Museum Prilep a remarkable discovery of a portrait bust was made. The bust depicts Faustina Minor dressed in an Isis garment with the typical knot on her chest. The identification of this portrait is additionally confirmed by iconographical analysis and correlation to other material that connects Faustina, the new Augusta, to Isis Faria of Alexandria, patron and protectoress of the fleet, ensuring safe trade and arrival of grain. Prior studies show that Styberra reached its urban flourishing during the Antonine and Severan dynasties. It was an administrative centre of the Derriopos region, an important strategic zone and a supplier of grain for the Macedonian army, known from the historical sources. Other recent findings from the Agora such as the mensae ponderirae and an altar dedicated to Hermes provide more specific insights. Based on the available archaeological data this paper focuses further on the context of the erection of the Imperial bust and the purpose of the Agora building, as well as the importance of the grain trade in Styberra.

ZEIT(EN) DES UMBRUCHS Akten des 17. Internationalen Kolloquiums zum provinzialrömischen Kunstschaffen Wien – Carnuntum, 16.–21. Mai 2022, 2024

Further considerations about the statuary found in the context of the late antique residences in ... more Further considerations about the statuary found in the context of the late antique residences in Stobi are made, particularly those from the so-called Houses of Parthenius and Polycharmos. These statues belong to different periods than
the context of their fnding, ranging in date from the Hellenistic period up to Roman Imperial times. Some of them
might have been locally made, but most of them are imports exhibiting high artistic qualities, all of them serving new
purposes as collectables. This study focuses mostly on their possible original position and their reuse in secondary
contexts before their fnal deposit. It also argues whether they are a legacy from the local heritage or imported; their
style, dating and provenience are considered, introducing new perspectives, all with the purpose of recognizing the late
antique habit of preserving Roman statuary and worship among the local aristocracy.

Potisnute teme u umjetnosti i humanistici Neglected Topics in Arts and Humanities Zbornik radova posvećen dr.sc. Vladimiru P. Gossu Book of essays in honour of dr.sc. Vladimir P. Goss, 2022

A sculpture of Magna Mater riding a lion was erected on the spina of the Circus Maximus. The God... more A sculpture of Magna Mater riding a lion was erected on the spina of the Circus Maximus. The Goddess was the patroness of the ludi circenses held once a year in her honour on the tenth of April, as a closing ceremony of the Roman festival Megalensia. Although the actual statue of the Great Goddess from the Circus Maximus has not been found, we have depictions of it on several monuments from antiquity. On the first place, there are the mosaics from from Sicily, Hispania and Carthage, which show us the chariot racing in full action, and the actual position and appearance of the sculpture of Magna Mater on a lion. By viewing the rest of the comparative material from the abundant corpus of the monuments connected to the cult of Magna Mater, the origin and spreading of the iconographical motif of the Goddess on a lion is elaborated.

MONUMENTA V, 2020

Abstract A Roman statue of a Great Goddess, previously identified as Demeter, was discovered in ... more Abstract
A Roman statue of a Great Goddess, previously identified as Demeter, was discovered in the 1930s at the site Suvodol near Bitola. Depicted is a Goddess sitting on a throne and holding a handful of fruit in her lap while beside her right foot there is another unidentified object,
partly broken off. This paper offers new angles to be considered in identifying the sculpture of the Goddess from Suvodol, which has been studied once more with an emphasis on attempting to recognize the attribute beside her right leg, and comparing it to the wider set of
analogous material drawn from the general heritage of the Roman statuary.
Key words: statue, Suvodol, Demeter, attributes, abundance of fruit, Tyche / Fortuna, rudder, globe, Heraclea Lyncestis, Styberra

НОВИ СОГЛЕДУВАЊА ЗА ТИКВЕШКАТА ГРУПА НАДГРОБНИ СПОМЕНИЦИ

A Volume dedicated to Ante Rendić-Miočevič, I. Radman-Livaja, T. Bilić (eds.), AMZ Zagreb , 2020

The main focus of this paper is the torso of Apollo Kitharoidos from Stobi, displayed in the Arch... more The main focus of this paper is the torso of Apollo Kitharoidos
from Stobi, displayed in the Archaeological Museum of Macedonia. This statue of quality craftsmanship is a second century
AD product of an accomplished workshop. Two other statues
from the region are also considered possibly to have represented Apollo, if not Dionysos. Both are second century works,
either imported or made in local workshops, depicting a young
god in a very similar fashion, a konzeptfigur as it were, that
without attributes could be identified as either god.

Der Stifter und sein Monument. Gesellschaft – Ikonographie – Chronologie. Akten des 15. Internationalen Kolloquiums zum Provinzialrömischen Kunstschaffen, B. Porod, P. Scherrer (Hrsg.), Graz , 2019

MONUMENTA, 2019

Abstract There has been an on-going discussion about the enigmatic symbolism of the iconography o... more Abstract
There has been an on-going discussion about the enigmatic symbolism of the iconography of the so-called “Tikveš group” funeral stelae in the past few decades. In this study we offer a new perspective by observing this particular group of funeral stelae through analogous material from Asia Minor.
Key words: “Tikveš group” funeral stelae, symbolism, Isauria, Christianity

Via Egnatia has long been a road that connected people, goods and ideas over a great historical t... more Via Egnatia has long been a road that connected people, goods and ideas over a great historical time span and geographical expanse , bringing the Italian peninsula closer to Asia Minor by way of the Balkans. Besides trade and the military, religious communications also traversed the route. In this paper I consider the case of dissemination of the Egyptian cults and the cult of Nemesis in Roman times by examining the archaeological material. Along the route of Via Egnatia there are considerable testimonies to the cults of Isis and the Egyptian deities.

TRADITION DANS LA COMMUNICATION ET DANS LA CULTURE SPIRITUELLE DE L‘EUR0PE DU SUD-EST, ТРАДИЦИЈАТА ВО КОМУНИКАЦИИТЕ И ВО ДУХОВНАТА КУЛТУРА НА ЈУГОИСТОЧНА ЕВРОПА, 2018

ОД ПАГАНСТВО ДО ХРИСТИЈАНСТВО ОT ЕЗИЧЕСТВО КЪМ ХРИСТИЯНСТВО, 2018

ОД ПАГАНСТВО ДО ХРИСТИЈАНСТВО ОД ЕЗИЧЕСТВО КЪМ ХРИСТИЯНСТВО, 2018

orientales dans lʼEmpire romain) и RGRW (Religions in the Graeco-Roman World), се преиспитуваат к... more orientales dans lʼEmpire romain) и RGRW (Religions in the Graeco-Roman World), се преиспитуваат концептите на она што е римско и на што е ориентално, па оттаму и дискусијата како овие култови да се именуваат, дали со наводници или со додатокот таканаречени. Би навеле само некои од поважните последни изданија

JUBILAEUS VII Society, Kings, Gods IN MEMORIAM PROFESSORIS Margaritae Tachevae, 2018

Издание на Катедрата по стара история, тракология и средновековна история, Исторически факултет, ... more Издание на Катедрата по стара история, тракология и средновековна история, Исторически факултет, Софийски университет "Св. Климент Охридски"

MONUMENTA IV, 2019

MONUMENTA I, 2016

Within the polymorphism of Isis we follow one particular iconographical type of the goddess crown... more Within the polymorphism of Isis we follow one particular iconographical type of the goddess crowned with a version of an Egyptian crown, the basileion with ears of wheat and flanked by erected snakes. One bronze bust with this iconography is also to be found among the monuments of Isis from Macedonia, discovered in a structure in the ancient town of Nicea, a station along the Via Egnatia. Inspired by the Nicea bust, this paper examines the Hellenisation of Isis, the syncretistic process with Demeter and the specific iconography. It reflects on the analogies, but also reexamines the context of the discovery. Апстракт Во рамките на полиморфизмот на Изида следиме еден определен иконографски тип на божицата, крунисана со верзија на египетската круна, базилеон, со класје жито и фланкирана со подигнати змии. Бронзена биста со оваа иконографија наоѓаме и меѓу спомениците на Изида од Македонија, откриена во објект во античкиот град Никеја, станица по должината на Виа Егнатија. Инспирирани од бистата од Никеја, во овој труд се прикажува хеленизацијата на Изида и синкретистичкиот процес со Деметра преку специфичната иконографија. Се лоцираат најблиските аналогии, но, исто така, се преиспитува и контекстот на наодот.

Opuscula Archaeologica Radovi Arheološkog …, 2008

 205  During rescue excavations which preceded construction of the new building of the Historic... more  205  During rescue excavations which preceded construction of the new building of the Historical Archives in the city of Sisak, new artefacts of Roman religious life were discovered. This included a brass bust/appliqué of a younger deity wearing an ivy wreath, a small sandstone sculpture of a lion with an animal's head under its paw, and the lower part of a limestone altar. The brass blätterkelch-type bust has been attributed to the young god Dionysus and it belongs among a group of items which served as ornaments for Roman tripods. The lion figure was a component of broader cult symbolism in Oriental religions often discovered on grave monuments. These new Roman discoveries from Sisak are unique and they enhance general knowledge of religious life in Roman Sisak.

MONUMENTA 7/8, 2024

Contextualizing 'Oriental' cults. New Lights on the Evidence between the Danube and the Adriatic, 2024

ZEIT(EN) DES UMBRUCHS Akten des 17. Internationalen Kolloquiums zum provinzialrömischen Kunstschaffen Wien – Carnuntum, 16.–21. Mai 2022, 2024

Potisnute teme u umjetnosti i humanistici Neglected Topics in Arts and Humanities Zbornik radova posvećen dr.sc. Vladimiru P. Gossu Book of essays in honour of dr.sc. Vladimir P. Goss, 2022

MONUMENTA V, 2020

НОВИ СОГЛЕДУВАЊА ЗА ТИКВЕШКАТА ГРУПА НАДГРОБНИ СПОМЕНИЦИ

A Volume dedicated to Ante Rendić-Miočevič, I. Radman-Livaja, T. Bilić (eds.), AMZ Zagreb , 2020

MONUMENTA, 2019

ОД ПАГАНСТВО ДО ХРИСТИЈАНСТВО ОT ЕЗИЧЕСТВО КЪМ ХРИСТИЯНСТВО, 2018

ОД ПАГАНСТВО ДО ХРИСТИЈАНСТВО ОД ЕЗИЧЕСТВО КЪМ ХРИСТИЯНСТВО, 2018

JUBILAEUS VII Society, Kings, Gods IN MEMORIAM PROFESSORIS Margaritae Tachevae, 2018

MONUMENTA IV, 2019

MONUMENTA I, 2016

Opuscula Archaeologica Radovi Arheološkog …, 2008

There are numerous traces of so-called ''Oriental'' cults in the territory of the Roman provinces... more There are numerous traces of so-called ''Oriental'' cults in the territory of the Roman provinces in Southeast Europe (Dalmatia, Pannonia, Moesia, Dacia, Thracia, Macedonia). The cults of Isis, Mithras, Cybele among others were accepted and incorporated in the religious systems of these provinces in the Roman period. Cult officials and communities of followers are well attested and remains of temples and cult statues are often monumental. The coastal cities of the Adriatic and the great river ports were the main cult centres. The contacts with Italic regions and imperial propaganda, as well as customs and preferences of the local population were important preconditions for the appropriation of those cults in the aforementioned territory. Cults were appropriated differently from one place to the next, depending on the particular manner of transmission and the varied circumstances within the Roman provinces of Southeast Europe. In the process of being inserted into new local societies and contexts, these cults often underwent adjustments and transformations. New values and meanings could be adopted, thus leading to specific provincial forms of traditional cults.
After the Skopje Symposium (Romanising Oriental Gods, 18-21 September 2013) the need to assemble once again became evident, in order to explore novel perspectives on this topic. The aim of our Symposium is to examine and debate further how the ''Oriental'' cults manifested themselves in the respective regions, on the basis of particularities of epigraphic and material evidence. Attention will be given to the dissemination and development of these cults in various contexts – historical, political, topographic, civic, economic, military – in the aforementioned provinces. Naturally, one of our main objectives is to encourage the presentation of new findings. Therefore, we gathered international group of specialists on the ''Oriental'' cults in different Roman contexts, to present the results of their research. We would like to dedicate our Symposium to late professor Petar Selem (1936-2015), prominent Croatian scientist, who spent his lifetime researching „Oriental“ cults.