"Zur spätantiken Elfenbeinpyxis in Sion" (original) (raw)

Two names of the Stag-God are known from the Late Hittite sources: Runtiya (or Runza) and Runtiya of the Countryside. The prosopographical material also allows us to assume the existence of a local hypostasis Runtiya of Aleppo. The god Karhuha who was worshipped mostly in Karkamiš is likewise identified by some researchers as a stag deity. This paper deals with the Hieroglyphic Luwian evidence for Runtiya, Runtiya of the Countryside, Runtiya of Aleppo and Karhuha from Late Hittite Anatolia and Northern Syria and explores questions about the geographical distribution of these manifestations, their functions and their relationship to each other.

The paper points out astonishing deficiencies in the English and Greek Wikipedia with regard to Minoan Crete, whereas the German version presents the subject more fully, especially with regard Kato Zakros and its contribution to our understanding of the word ‘asaminthos’. The etymology of this word seems to be established by now, but it is interesting to note that younger scholars do not seem to be aware of the original proposal (in 1922) by a German author.

In: Graeco-Latina Brunensia 18 (2013), 117 – 130. Taking the appearance of the Four Seasons in book 11 of the Dionysiaca (Nonn. D. 11, 485 – 521) as an example it is the object of the present contribution proposal to demonstrate the application of ecphrastic genre in this epic. It will be argued that the poet follows the rules of rhetorical handbooks in giving a particularly vivid portrayal of the Seasons. Moreover, appealing to all senses Nonnus ties the reader very close to his story and hence seeks to create a special relationship between narration and audience. With the ecphrasis of Autumn he foreshadows major developments of the narration and throws a glance at future events of the epic.

S. Ladstätter (Hrsg.), Neue Forschungen zur Kuretenstraße von Ephesos (Wien 2009)

This paper focuses on ivory carving in Syria during the Iron Age. The main stylistic groups, which can be assigned to Syrian workshops are discussed in their main examples. Their repertoire of motifs and the range of object-types are presented. Despite a number of Syrian findspots, there is hardly any evidence for local ivory-working. Indirect evidence can be gathered from comparisons to monumental sculpture as in Tell Halaf or Zincirli. Likewise the dating remains open for debate.