Roman funerary reliefs and North African identity : a contextual investigation of Tripolitanian mausolea and their iconography
During the Roman-period, hundreds of mausolea were commissioned by the local Libyan elite in Tripolitania (Libya). While funerary sculpture was rare in pre-Roman Tripolitania, during the Roman period many were vividly decorated with symbolic and figural sculpture. This Ph.D. provides the first extended discussion and comprehensive catalogue of Tripolitanian mausolea and their decorations. Based on the data from this catalogue, it aims to highlight the broad spectrum of decorations, and seeks to demonstrate how aspects of Roman, pan-Mediterranean, and North African imagery were re-formulated to create an iconography with local relevance through which complex layers of identity, beliefs, and symbolism were expressed. After setting the mausolea within their historical, geographical, and social contexts, this Ph.D. will provide an overview of their main architectural types and the principal iconographic themes displayed. Next, the sculptural decorations will be investigated through select case studies by focusing on their regional context together with the inscriptions and the architecture of the monument, along with the local socio-economic circumstances. Finally, this study will explore how the iconography helped
Nikolaus, Julia Salome
Roman funerary reliefs and North African identity : a contextual investigation of Tripolitanian mausolea and their iconography. During the Roman-period, hundreds of mausolea were commissioned by the local Libyan elite in Tripolitania (Libya). While funerary sculpture was rare in pre-Roman Tripolitania, during the Roman period many were vividly decorated with symbolic and figural sculpture. This Ph.D. provides the first extended discussion and comprehensive catalogue of Tripolitanian mausolea and their decorations. Based on the data from this catalogue, it aims to highlight the broad spectrum of decorations, and seeks to demonstrate how aspects of Roman, pan-Mediterranean, and North African imagery were re-formulated to create an iconography with local relevance through which complex layers of identity, beliefs, and symbolism were expressed. After setting the mausolea within their historical, geographical, and social contexts, this Ph.D. will provide an overview of their main architectural types and the principal iconographic themes displayed. Next, the sculptural decorations will be investigated through select case studies by focusing on their regional context together with the inscriptions and the architecture of the monument, along with the local socio-economic circumstances. Finally, this study will explore how the iconography helped
roman_funerary relief north african identity contextual investigation iconography roman_period hundred local libyan elite tripolitania libya funerary sculpture rare pre_roman tripolitania roman_period many vividly decorate symbolic figural sculpture phd provide_first extend discussion comprehensive catalogue decoration based data catalogue aim_highlight broad_spectrum decoration seek aspect roman pan mediterranean north african imagery create iconography local relevance complex layer identity belief symbolism express set within historical_geographical social_context phd provide_overview main architectural type principal iconographic theme display next sculptural decoration investigate select_case study_focus regional_context together inscription architecture monument along local socio_economic circumstance finally study_explore iconography help