On the allegedly manicheic funerary..., N. Proeva. In. ANTE PORTAM AUREAM STUDIA, 2017, pp. 178- (original) (raw)

2017, .) Ante portam auream, studia in honorem professoris Aleksandar Jovanović,

Abstract

The so-called Tikvesh funerary stelae (N. Proeva), rather than stelae of the Kavadarci type (N. Vulić), are concentrated mainly in the Tikvesh region, and not only in Kavadarci, but are spread alongside the mid-stream of the Axius (Vardar). These stelae are the only ones in Roman Macedonia, with iconography that is not figural, but features motifs that are vegetal (the evergreen tree, leaves of ivy and wine, poppies, pinecones) and astral (stars, crescent) as well as agricultural tools (a wine reaping hook, a pickaxe). The motifs, presented in a more or less stylized manner, are found in the relief field, as well as on the pediments of the stelae. There are different and contradicting interpretations promoted to date, regarding the iconography of the stelae, the latest of which is based on Manicheans dogma. This opinion is unacceptable because the author has not looked at it as a unique iconographic pattern but had analyzed the motifs separately, completely ignoring the epigraphic elements (onomastic, paleography, etc.). The dating of these stelae to late Antiquity is also not supported. Contrary to this approach, by analyzing all the epigraphic and iconographic elements of this unusual iconography within the socioeconomic , religious and cultural milieu which it was created, the conclusion can be reached that the iconography concerns heroization, not only of the deceased, but also of their ancestors, along with the belief in immortality, expressed in a original way, typical of the local population.

Key takeaways

sparkles

AI

  1. The Tikveš funerary stelae date from the 1st to the 4th century AD, contrary to claims of a 3rd-4th century dating.
  2. Iconography of Tikveš stelae symbolizes heroization and belief in immortality, not Manichaean influence.
  3. Previous interpretations of Tikveš stelae neglect epigraphic data, leading to flawed conclusions.
  4. Stylization in Tikveš stelae reflects local craftsmanship rather than foreign religious influences.
  5. Manichaean theory lacks archaeological evidence in Macedonia, undermining its validity.

Loading...

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

References (19)

  1. Cumont 1943, 234, 236; Burkert 2001, 103 -133, especially 110 sqq. These beliefs were certainly not unknown to Manicheans who included old Semitic beliefs from Mesopotamia, region where Manichaeism came from, into their doctrine. Cf. Acta Archelai, 13,10; Cumont 1943, 108; Cumont 1908, 11.
  2. Except for the name of the deceased, C. Cornelius Secundus and his/her age, there are also two formulations ossa tibi bene quiescant; terra tibi levis sit.
  3. F. Salviat correctly interprets rosettes on a stela from Thasos as stars (Salviat, 1966, 33-44). ON THE ALLEGEDLY MANICHEIC FUNERARY STEALAE OF "TIKVESH TYPE" FROM ROMAN...
  4. ◆ Esperendieu 1908 -E. Esperendieu, Receuil général des basreliefs, statues et bustes de la Gaule, Paris 1908. ◆ Forni 1988 -G. Forni, Epigraphica III, Epigraphica L 1988, 105-141.
  5. ◆ Frazer 1913 -J. G. Frazer, The Belief of Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, I, London 1913.
  6. ◆ Guillaume-Coirier 2001 -G. Guillaume-Coirier, Au delà de la mort, le sens d'un relief du museo Gregoriano profano, Ostraka X/1-2 2001, 67-80.
  7. ◆ Gulácsi 2001 -Zs. Gulácsi, Manichaean Art in Berlin Collections, Brepols 2001.
  8. ◆ ILJug = Ana Šašel and Jaro Šašel 1986, Inscriptiones Latinae quae in Iugoslavia inter annos MCMII et MCMLX repertae et editae sunt, Situla 5, Ljubljana 1986.
  9. ◆ Јовановић 2005 -А. Јовановић, Археолошке белешке уз сакралне споменике из Македоније, Зборник Нродног Музеја (Београд) XVIII-1 2005, 509-530. (A. Jovanović, Arheološke beleške uz sakralne spomenike iz Makedonije, Zbornik Narodnog muzeja (Beograd) XVIII-1 2005, 509-
  10. ◆ Јосифовска 1953 -Б. Јосифовска, Неколку неиздадени грчки и латински натписи од Македонија, Živa Antika III1953, 222-244. (B. Josifovska, Nekolku naeizdadeni grčki i latinski natpisi od Makedonija, Živa Antika III 1953, 222-244.)
  11. ◆ Klimkeit 1982 -H. J. Klimkeit, Manichaeean Art and Calligraphy, Leiden 1982. ◆ Klimkeit 1998 -H. J. Klimkeit, On the Nature of Manichaean Art, 270-290; Indian Motifs in Manichaean Art, 291-299; Manichaean Art on the Silk Road: Old and New Discoveries, 300-313, in: Studies in Manichaean Literature and art, M. Heuser, H. J. Klimkeit (eds.), Leiden-Boston- Koln 1998. ◆ Mihailoв 1966 -G. Mihailov, Inscriptiones Graecae in Bulgaria repertae, IV, Sofia 1966. ◆ Papazoglou 1986 -F. Papazoglou, Oppidum civium romanorum et municipium Stobensium, Chiron 16 1986, 213-237.
  12. ◆ Papazoglou 1986 -F. Papazoglou, La population des colonies romaines en Macédoine, Živa Antika 36 1986, 111-124.
  13. ◆ Petit 1974 -P. Petit, Histoire générale de l'Empire romain, vol. III, Le Bas-Empire (284-395), Paris 1974. ◆ Piso 2001 -I. Piso, Inscriptions d'Apulum (Inscriptions de la Dacie Romaine) III/5. Mémoires de l' Académie des Inscriptions et Belles -Lettres, I-II, Paris 2001.
  14. ◆ Prijatelj 1950 -K. Prijatelj, Nekoliko rimskih nadgrobnih portreta u arheološkom Muzeju u Splitu, Vjesnik za arheologiju i historiju dalmainsku LIII 1950, 135-154.
  15. ◆ Proeva 1995 -N. Proeva, La stèle funéraire datée de l'année 325/6 de n.è. et les stèles de l'antiquité tardive de la région de Tikveš en Macédoine, in: The Age of Tetrarch, Dragoslav Srejović (ed.) (Papers from the International Conference, October, 4-9 1993), Belgrade 1995, 284-293.
  16. ◆ Проева 1997 -Н. Проевa, Студии за античките Македонци, Скопје 1997. (N. Proeva, Studii za antičkite Makedonci, Skopje 1997.)
  17. ◆ Proeva 1997 -N. Proeva, Stèles funéraires de la Haute Macédoine à l' époque romaine (étude typologique et iconographique), in: Mélanges d'histoire et d' épigraphie offerts à Fanoula Papazoglou, Beograd 1997, 141-147.
  18. ◆ Proeva 2007 -N. Proeva, Les influences étrangères dans la culture de la haute Macédoine à l' époque romaine, in: Epire, Illyrie Macedoine, Mélanges P. Cabannes, col. Erga, no 10, D. Berranger-Auserve (ed.), Clermont, Ferrqand 2007, 301-311.
  19. ◆ Proeva 2009 -N. Proeva, Les stèles funéraires décorées de pins et de pommes de pin de Pélagonie en Haute Macédoine, in: Vasiliki Gaggagis-Robin, A. Hermary, M. Reddé, Cl. Sintes (eds.), Les