Nirvana Silnovic | Austrian Academy of Sciences (original) (raw)

Conference Presentations by Nirvana Silnovic

Acta Ant. Hung., 2018

A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on dis... more A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on dis- play in the Archaeological Museum in Split. Despite its visibility, the relief has so far remained unpub- lished. It is therefore the aim of this article to provide the detailed description of the object, and to con- textualize it within the broader framework of “small and miniature reproductions of the Mithraic icon”. Based on this, the original provenance and dating of the miniature relief are proposed. Furthermore, the relief is taken as a fine example of interconnectedness of social, material, and religious mobility in “globalizing Roman world”. The final part of the article discusses the psychological effectiveness of miniature Mithraic reliefs, suggesting their possible role as memory aids.

This session brings together young scholars dealing with various aspects of religious life in the... more This session brings together young scholars dealing with various aspects of religious life in the Roman Province of Dalmatia. Covering the great chronological expanse from Hellenistic times to Late Antiquity, each paper will explore a specific facet of Dalmatian religious landscape. Today, the rich material evidence witnesses to the abundant and multifarious religious practices that formed a part of everyday life of the province. Despite its richness and attractiveness, the material evidence of the Dalmatian religious life has only recently started to get its proper treatment and (re)evaluation. Over the past few decades there have been a major developments in the study of ancient religion, as well as a growing (re)examination of the notion of "Romanisation," and of "Roman art," resulting in new approaches and changes in how we understand religious and material culture of the provinces. The aim of this session is to explore various challenges these new approaches present, and to offer insight into the recent study of Dalmatian religious life.

MA Thesis by Nirvana Silnovic

CALL FOR PAPERS by Nirvana Silnovic

The conference will focus on the polychrome appearance of stone monuments in the Roman provinces.... more The conference will focus on the polychrome appearance of stone monuments in the Roman provinces. Although numerous examples with well-preserved colour settings from different regions of the Roman Empire have survived, research into them is still in its infancy. In contrast to the sculptural and architectural heritage of the Mediterranean region, no comprehensive studies on the use, the extent, and the materiality of coloured surfaces on stone are yet available for the peripheral areas of the empire.

Recent interdisciplinary innovation in the fields of materials science and digital heritage have ... more Recent interdisciplinary innovation in the fields of materials science and digital heritage have had a transformative impact on our understanding of how artworks, architecture and artefacts were presented to Roman audiences and the way contemporary audiences can engage with them in the museumscape and digital arena. Polychromy is pivotal to this interface since colour is a central component of the lived experience that creates connections between people, places and things. Yet, colour is often under-represented in archaeological reports and barely acknowledged on information boards in exhibition spaces.

Conference and Workshop Organizations by Nirvana Silnovic

The Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies (CEMS) at Central European University and its junior... more The Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies (CEMS) at Central European University and its junior members are proud to announce the forthcoming Fifth International Graduate Conference on Building, Bending, and Breaking Boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean World. This three-day conference invites graduate students of Late Antique, Islamic, Jewish, Byzantine, Medieval, Ottoman studies, and other related disciplines, to present their research on the manifold and complex processes of constructing, negotiating, transgressing, and subverting social, political, cultural or confessional boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean from Antiquity to the Early Modern period.

Papers by Nirvana Silnovic

Acta Illyrica, 2023

This paper examines the tauroctony relief from the village Dardagan, near Zvornik (Bosnia and Her... more This paper examines the tauroctony relief from the village Dardagan, near Zvornik (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and proposes a new interpretation of the monument. Contrary to previous views, which deemed the relief as a primitive work executed by an unskilled sculptor, the careful analysis of its stylistic, compositional, and iconographic features, as argued in the paper, reveals its semi-finished nature. Since the existence of the workshop at the quarry in Dardagan was recently proven, the tauroctony relief is interpreted as its product. Moreover, it is the sole evidence that, besides funerary monuments and architectural elements, the workshop also produced votive images for specific cults. The tauroctony from Dardagan represents a unique instance of a semi-finished Mithraic sculpture discovered at its production site within the Roman province of Dalmatia. Furthermore, an examination of archaeological reports and original photographs of Milica Kosorić allowed for a better understanding of the context of the tauroctony’s discovery, providing new insights into the small finds and rock-carved figures so far associated with the cult. It is argued that these finds cannot be linked to the cult of Mithras and that the existence of the mithraeum at the site remains hypothetical.

Carnuntum Jahrbuch, 2022

The lion crown from Carnuntum with extensive remains of original polychromy was recently investig... more The lion crown from Carnuntum with extensive remains of original polychromy was recently investigated within the framework of the "PolychroMon" research project (Austrian Academy of Sciences). The monument, an architectural component that was used as a separately worked crowning element of a large-format funerary stele, belongs to a well-known type found especially in the Danube-Balkan region during the later 2 nd and 3 rd centuries. It shows a pair of antithetically placed lying lions, each holding a ram's head under their right front paws. A head of a bearded man with a Phrygian cap is placed in the middle. The iconographic analysis suggests its identification as Iuppiter Sabazios, which would so far be a unique case among the known lion crowns. Investigations of the polychromy revealed the use of yellow and red ochre, green earth, and carbon black in lime binding, and permitted reconstruction of the painting technique in places. Moreover, the combination of different non-invasive investigation methods gives rise to the possible use of Egyptian blue.

Carnuntum Jahrbuch, 2022

A relief depicting Cautopates, reportedly found in the civilian settlement in Carnuntum, was acqu... more A relief depicting Cautopates, reportedly found in the civilian settlement in Carnuntum, was acquired by the Museum Carnuntinum in 1970. Both the execution and the distorted proportions show typical provincial characteristics observable in numerous other sculptures from Carnuntum, and based on its stylistic characteristics, the relief is approximately dated to the second half of the 2 nd cent. AD. The comparative analysis of similar types of sculptures with depictions of torchbearers from Mithraeum I and III from Carnuntum, as well as from elsewhere, allows its possible original function to be deduced. It is assumed that the relief was most likely installed at the end of the left podium, close to the entrance to the cella of a Mithraeum. Since the relief was not found in situ, it is not possible to associate it with absolute certainty with any of the known Mithraea from Carnuntum. Thus, the relief is possibly evidence of another, as yet unknown, Mithraeum in the civilian settlement. NM007313-001-787630_Carnuntum Jahrbuch_Cerna Beliv.pdf / 34. oldal NM007313-001-787630_Carnuntum Jahrbuch_Cerna Beliv.pdf / 34. oldal

Heritage, 2023

This paper presents the first results of a current interdisciplinary research project on the poly... more This paper presents the first results of a current interdisciplinary research project on the polychromy of Roman provincial stone artefacts in selected areas of the Danubian provinces (Poly- chroMon). The statuary group of Minerva and the Genius immunium from Carnuntum (Archaeological Museum Carnuntinum inv. CAR-S-48) is dated to the second half of the second century AD and still retains traces of the original polychromy. The aim was to focus on non-invasive techniques and to employ micro-invasive methods for necessary cross-checking and gaining information otherwise not accessible. The investigation revealed that paint was applied on a layer of white lime wash. Addition- ally, the object shows several traces of Egyptian blue, which was mainly detected in Minerva’s and the Genius’ clothes. Other pigments whose traces were found on the sculpture include green earth, yellow and red ochre, as well as red lead and carbon black. Microscopic analysis confirms the presence of modern-age compounds as well (barium sulphate and zinc oxide) used for modern retouches. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed the use of egg as the major proteinaceous binding medium in the red lead polychromy.

Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae , 2018

A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on dis... more A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on display in the Archaeological Museum in Split. Despite its visibility, the relief has so far remained unpublished. It is therefore the aim of this article to provide the detailed description of the object, and to contextualize it within the broader framework of "small and miniature reproductions of the Mithraic icon". Based on this, the original provenance and dating of the miniature relief are proposed. Furthermore, the relief is taken as a fine example of interconnectedness of social, material, and religious mobility in "globalizing Roman world". The final part of the article discusses the psychological effectiveness of miniature Mithraic reliefs, suggesting their possible role as memory aids.

Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 2018

Summary A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, i... more Summary A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on display in the Archaeological Museum in Split. Despite its visibility, the relief has so far remained unpublished. It is therefore the aim of this article to provide the detailed description of the object, and to contextualize it within the broader framework of “small and miniature reproductions of the Mithraic icon”. Based on this, the original provenance and dating of the miniature relief are proposed. Furthermore, the relief is taken as a fine example of interconnectedness of social, material, and religious mobility in “globalizing Roman world”. The final part of the article discusses the psychological effectiveness of miniature Mithraic reliefs, suggesting their possible role as memory aids.

Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarium Hungaricae, 2018

A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on dis... more A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on dis- play in the Archaeological Museum in Split. Despite its visibility, the relief has so far remained unpub- lished. It is therefore the aim of this article to provide the detailed description of the object, and to con- textualize it within the broader framework of “small and miniature reproductions of the Mithraic icon”. Based on this, the original provenance and dating of the miniature relief are proposed. Furthermore, the relief is taken as a fine example of interconnectedness of social, material, and religious mobility in “glob- alizing Roman world”. The final part of the article discusses the psychological effectiveness of miniature Mithraic reliefs, suggesting their possible role as memory aids.

Annual of Medieval Studies at CEU vol. 21, 2015

Acta Ant. Hung., 2018

A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on dis... more A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on dis- play in the Archaeological Museum in Split. Despite its visibility, the relief has so far remained unpub- lished. It is therefore the aim of this article to provide the detailed description of the object, and to con- textualize it within the broader framework of “small and miniature reproductions of the Mithraic icon”. Based on this, the original provenance and dating of the miniature relief are proposed. Furthermore, the relief is taken as a fine example of interconnectedness of social, material, and religious mobility in “globalizing Roman world”. The final part of the article discusses the psychological effectiveness of miniature Mithraic reliefs, suggesting their possible role as memory aids.

This session brings together young scholars dealing with various aspects of religious life in the... more This session brings together young scholars dealing with various aspects of religious life in the Roman Province of Dalmatia. Covering the great chronological expanse from Hellenistic times to Late Antiquity, each paper will explore a specific facet of Dalmatian religious landscape. Today, the rich material evidence witnesses to the abundant and multifarious religious practices that formed a part of everyday life of the province. Despite its richness and attractiveness, the material evidence of the Dalmatian religious life has only recently started to get its proper treatment and (re)evaluation. Over the past few decades there have been a major developments in the study of ancient religion, as well as a growing (re)examination of the notion of "Romanisation," and of "Roman art," resulting in new approaches and changes in how we understand religious and material culture of the provinces. The aim of this session is to explore various challenges these new approaches present, and to offer insight into the recent study of Dalmatian religious life.

The conference will focus on the polychrome appearance of stone monuments in the Roman provinces.... more The conference will focus on the polychrome appearance of stone monuments in the Roman provinces. Although numerous examples with well-preserved colour settings from different regions of the Roman Empire have survived, research into them is still in its infancy. In contrast to the sculptural and architectural heritage of the Mediterranean region, no comprehensive studies on the use, the extent, and the materiality of coloured surfaces on stone are yet available for the peripheral areas of the empire.

Recent interdisciplinary innovation in the fields of materials science and digital heritage have ... more Recent interdisciplinary innovation in the fields of materials science and digital heritage have had a transformative impact on our understanding of how artworks, architecture and artefacts were presented to Roman audiences and the way contemporary audiences can engage with them in the museumscape and digital arena. Polychromy is pivotal to this interface since colour is a central component of the lived experience that creates connections between people, places and things. Yet, colour is often under-represented in archaeological reports and barely acknowledged on information boards in exhibition spaces.

The Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies (CEMS) at Central European University and its junior... more The Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies (CEMS) at Central European University and its junior members are proud to announce the forthcoming Fifth International Graduate Conference on Building, Bending, and Breaking Boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean World. This three-day conference invites graduate students of Late Antique, Islamic, Jewish, Byzantine, Medieval, Ottoman studies, and other related disciplines, to present their research on the manifold and complex processes of constructing, negotiating, transgressing, and subverting social, political, cultural or confessional boundaries in the eastern Mediterranean from Antiquity to the Early Modern period.

Acta Illyrica, 2023

This paper examines the tauroctony relief from the village Dardagan, near Zvornik (Bosnia and Her... more This paper examines the tauroctony relief from the village Dardagan, near Zvornik (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and proposes a new interpretation of the monument. Contrary to previous views, which deemed the relief as a primitive work executed by an unskilled sculptor, the careful analysis of its stylistic, compositional, and iconographic features, as argued in the paper, reveals its semi-finished nature. Since the existence of the workshop at the quarry in Dardagan was recently proven, the tauroctony relief is interpreted as its product. Moreover, it is the sole evidence that, besides funerary monuments and architectural elements, the workshop also produced votive images for specific cults. The tauroctony from Dardagan represents a unique instance of a semi-finished Mithraic sculpture discovered at its production site within the Roman province of Dalmatia. Furthermore, an examination of archaeological reports and original photographs of Milica Kosorić allowed for a better understanding of the context of the tauroctony’s discovery, providing new insights into the small finds and rock-carved figures so far associated with the cult. It is argued that these finds cannot be linked to the cult of Mithras and that the existence of the mithraeum at the site remains hypothetical.

Carnuntum Jahrbuch, 2022

The lion crown from Carnuntum with extensive remains of original polychromy was recently investig... more The lion crown from Carnuntum with extensive remains of original polychromy was recently investigated within the framework of the "PolychroMon" research project (Austrian Academy of Sciences). The monument, an architectural component that was used as a separately worked crowning element of a large-format funerary stele, belongs to a well-known type found especially in the Danube-Balkan region during the later 2 nd and 3 rd centuries. It shows a pair of antithetically placed lying lions, each holding a ram's head under their right front paws. A head of a bearded man with a Phrygian cap is placed in the middle. The iconographic analysis suggests its identification as Iuppiter Sabazios, which would so far be a unique case among the known lion crowns. Investigations of the polychromy revealed the use of yellow and red ochre, green earth, and carbon black in lime binding, and permitted reconstruction of the painting technique in places. Moreover, the combination of different non-invasive investigation methods gives rise to the possible use of Egyptian blue.

Carnuntum Jahrbuch, 2022

A relief depicting Cautopates, reportedly found in the civilian settlement in Carnuntum, was acqu... more A relief depicting Cautopates, reportedly found in the civilian settlement in Carnuntum, was acquired by the Museum Carnuntinum in 1970. Both the execution and the distorted proportions show typical provincial characteristics observable in numerous other sculptures from Carnuntum, and based on its stylistic characteristics, the relief is approximately dated to the second half of the 2 nd cent. AD. The comparative analysis of similar types of sculptures with depictions of torchbearers from Mithraeum I and III from Carnuntum, as well as from elsewhere, allows its possible original function to be deduced. It is assumed that the relief was most likely installed at the end of the left podium, close to the entrance to the cella of a Mithraeum. Since the relief was not found in situ, it is not possible to associate it with absolute certainty with any of the known Mithraea from Carnuntum. Thus, the relief is possibly evidence of another, as yet unknown, Mithraeum in the civilian settlement. NM007313-001-787630_Carnuntum Jahrbuch_Cerna Beliv.pdf / 34. oldal NM007313-001-787630_Carnuntum Jahrbuch_Cerna Beliv.pdf / 34. oldal

Heritage, 2023

This paper presents the first results of a current interdisciplinary research project on the poly... more This paper presents the first results of a current interdisciplinary research project on the polychromy of Roman provincial stone artefacts in selected areas of the Danubian provinces (Poly- chroMon). The statuary group of Minerva and the Genius immunium from Carnuntum (Archaeological Museum Carnuntinum inv. CAR-S-48) is dated to the second half of the second century AD and still retains traces of the original polychromy. The aim was to focus on non-invasive techniques and to employ micro-invasive methods for necessary cross-checking and gaining information otherwise not accessible. The investigation revealed that paint was applied on a layer of white lime wash. Addition- ally, the object shows several traces of Egyptian blue, which was mainly detected in Minerva’s and the Genius’ clothes. Other pigments whose traces were found on the sculpture include green earth, yellow and red ochre, as well as red lead and carbon black. Microscopic analysis confirms the presence of modern-age compounds as well (barium sulphate and zinc oxide) used for modern retouches. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry revealed the use of egg as the major proteinaceous binding medium in the red lead polychromy.

Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae , 2018

A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on dis... more A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on display in the Archaeological Museum in Split. Despite its visibility, the relief has so far remained unpublished. It is therefore the aim of this article to provide the detailed description of the object, and to contextualize it within the broader framework of "small and miniature reproductions of the Mithraic icon". Based on this, the original provenance and dating of the miniature relief are proposed. Furthermore, the relief is taken as a fine example of interconnectedness of social, material, and religious mobility in "globalizing Roman world". The final part of the article discusses the psychological effectiveness of miniature Mithraic reliefs, suggesting their possible role as memory aids.

Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 2018

Summary A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, i... more Summary A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on display in the Archaeological Museum in Split. Despite its visibility, the relief has so far remained unpublished. It is therefore the aim of this article to provide the detailed description of the object, and to contextualize it within the broader framework of “small and miniature reproductions of the Mithraic icon”. Based on this, the original provenance and dating of the miniature relief are proposed. Furthermore, the relief is taken as a fine example of interconnectedness of social, material, and religious mobility in “globalizing Roman world”. The final part of the article discusses the psychological effectiveness of miniature Mithraic reliefs, suggesting their possible role as memory aids.

Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarium Hungaricae, 2018

A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on dis... more A miniature relief representing the scene of tauroctony, i.e. Mithras killing the bull, is on dis- play in the Archaeological Museum in Split. Despite its visibility, the relief has so far remained unpub- lished. It is therefore the aim of this article to provide the detailed description of the object, and to con- textualize it within the broader framework of “small and miniature reproductions of the Mithraic icon”. Based on this, the original provenance and dating of the miniature relief are proposed. Furthermore, the relief is taken as a fine example of interconnectedness of social, material, and religious mobility in “glob- alizing Roman world”. The final part of the article discusses the psychological effectiveness of miniature Mithraic reliefs, suggesting their possible role as memory aids.

Annual of Medieval Studies at CEU vol. 21, 2015

Pervading Empire. Relationality and Diversity in the Roman Empire, ed. Vladimir D. Mihajlović and Marko A. Janković, Potsdamer Altertumswissenschaftliche Beiträge 73, Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 2020

And when some girl inquires the names of the monarchs, Or the towns, rivers, and hills portrayed,... more And when some girl inquires the names of the monarchs, Or the towns, rivers, and hills portrayed, Answer all her questions (and don't draw the line at Questions only): pretend You know even when you don't. Here comes the Euphrates, tell her, With reed-fringed brow; those dark Blue tresses belong to Tigris, I fancy; there go Armenians, That's Persia, and that, h'r'm, is some Upland Achaemenid city. Both those men are generals-Give the names if you know them, if not, invent.

Dialectics of Religion in the Roman World, ed. Francesca Mazzilli and Dies van der Linde, Potsdamer Altertumswissenschaftliche Beiträge 78, Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag , 2021

This paper explores the cult of Mithras as dynamic in relation to its social, economic, and polit... more This paper explores the cult of Mithras as dynamic in relation to its social, economic, and political context and strongly based on interactions between its members. People wanted to join the cult because it was an opportunity for them to advance in their non-religious sphere (their social status, finances
and everyday life) through connections and interactions with other members of the cult during cult and initiation activities comprising a small number of people. This would have nurtured a sense of belonging and communal consciousness and the idea of sharing. Personal relationships and interactions were significant for the Mithraic cult in order to recruit new members and, therefore, to keep the cult alive. Members of the cult mainly used their family relationships (Virunum album) or their professional connections (customs officials from Poetovio or military officials from Hadrian’s Wall). The dynamic element of the Mithraic communities revealed in this paper sits in opposition to the concept of Roman society but at the same time members of this cult wanted to be part of the hierarchical structure that Roman society constituted by being part of a dynamic religious community, like the one of the cult of Mithras.

Migrations in Visual Art (ed. J. Erdeljan et al.), 2018

This article explores the complex nature of Mithriac images, and the important role images have p... more This article explores the complex nature of Mithriac images, and the important role images have played in the Mithras cult. The first part of the article reflects upon the role of the Mithraic images. The preference of the visual mode of expression is justified by the double nature that cult images have embodied: cultic and votive. In the absence of religious texts, the highly standardized iconography of Mithraic images served didactic purposes, and moreover, to establish a common cultural identity among the cult members. Stone medallions, carried about and transferred to considerable distances, are further evidence of the overall coherence of Mithraic visual codes. Both cult icons and miniature stone medallions testify to the primacy of the images, and, as argued in the second part of the article, to the essentiality of the refined dynamics of migration of objects, ideas, and meanings. Dominated by images, Mithraic culture is treated as an example of 'the pictorial turn.'

Migrations in Visual Art (eds. J. Erdeljan et al.), 2018

This article explores the complex nature of Mithriac images, and the important role images have p... more This article explores the complex nature of Mithriac images, and the important role images have played in the Mithras cult. The rest part of the article reflects upon the role of the Mithraic images. The preference of the visual mode of expression is justified by the double nature that cult images have embodied: cultic and votive. In the absence of religious texts, the highly standardized iconography of Mithraic images served didactic purposes, and moreover, to establish a common cultural identity among the cult members. Stone medallions, carried about and transferred to considerable distances, are further evidence of the overall coherence of Mithraic visual codes. Both cult icons and miniature stone medallions testify to the primacy of the images, and, as argued in the second part of the article, to the essentiality of the refined dynamics of migration of objects, ideas, and meanings. Dominated by images, Mithraic culture is treated as an example of ‘the pictorial turn.’

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

A lion statuette was found during construction work around the Mithraeum in Jajce in 2012. It is ... more A lion statuette was found during construction work around the Mithraeum in Jajce in 2012. It is exhibited inside the Mithraeum, close to the rock-cut tauroctony relief; however, its original purpose was somewhat different. The statuette shows a recumbent lion on a roughly trimmed plinth, with his head slightly turned to the left. A roundish object is placed between the lion’s forelegs, which, based on the comparative examples, can be identified as an animal head. The statuette was probably set up at the entrance to the sanctuary, where the water basin was presumably installed as well. The statuette was most likely part of the original furnishings of the Mithraeum and can be dated to the same time – late 3rd/early 4th century AD.

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

The PolychroMon project funded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences/Heritage Science Austria 2020 ... more The PolychroMon project funded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences/Heritage Science Austria 2020 is conducting comprehensive research on the polychromy of Roman stone monuments from the Danubian provinces. For exemplify- ing aims and applied methods, this paper provides first results of the investigation of a Mithraic tauroctony relief from Carnuntum, which shows several painted elements not rendered by carving. Especially highlighted is the occurrence and distribution of the pigment Egyptian blue, which was inter alia used to enhance the plasticity of the figures by pictorial shadowing. Preliminary remarks on the meaning of colour indicate good conformity with known Mithraic reliefs – however, this research is still at a preliminary stage within this project.

Tradition and Transformation: Dissent and Consent in the Mediterranean. Selected Papers from the Third CEMS International Graduate Conference (Budapest, May 30 – June 1, 2013), ed. Mihail Mitrea, 2016

The contribution brings a new interpretation of the unusual iconography of a Mithraic tondo relie... more The contribution brings a new interpretation of the unusual iconography of a Mithraic tondo relief from Salona.

Alia Miscellanea Antiquitatum (ed. Daniel Bajnok), 2017

The article offers a first overview of the mithraea in the Roman province of Dalmatia. Besides pr... more The article offers a first overview of the mithraea in the Roman province of Dalmatia. Besides providing the description of each mithraeum and the related finds, the article considers a wider topographical contextualization. A special attention is given to the relationship between the mithraea and their immediate environment, i.e., proximity of the natural resources, important traffic routes, urban or centres of other importance (e.g. customs post). Other possible Mithraic monuments from the surrounding area are briefly mentioned as well.

Doctoral Dissertation, 2022