Asturius Vivas! Bildprogramm und Funktion einer spätrömischen Gürtelschnalle (original) (raw)

MITTEILUNGEN ZUR SPÄTANTIKEN ARCHÄOLOGIE UND BYZANTINISCHEN KUNSTGESCHICHTE, 2021

Abstract

Asturius vivas! Pictorial Programme and Function of a Late Roman Belt Buckle A Late Roman brass belt buckle in the collection of the RGZM is decorated with the portrait medallion of a man between victories and two persons likely to represent apostles. An inscription on both sides of the portrait reads Asturius vivas. The object is likely to have been manufactured in North Italy or Pannonia in the second half of the 4th century. But its decorative features include elements known from a golden belt buckle from Asia Minor which belongs to a class of artefacts known to have been distributed as imperial largesse. In this paper, it is argued that the more humble piece it discusses was an object of largesse belonging to a dignitary or officer named Asturius who distributed it among his followers in imitation of imperial custom. In analogy to the golden imperial example, the decoration of the brass buckle is interpreted as an advertisement that its bearer was a loyal follower of Asturius.

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