Shades of identity : an iconographic approach to the early Christian burial chambers in Sopianae (Pannonia)
There are several burial chambers in the Late Antique cemetery of the Roman town of Sopianae in Pannonia province (modern Hungary) decorated with wall paintings resembling Roman catacomb art. These underground chambers from the second half of the fourth century contain both specifically Christian images as well as gen-eral motifs in Roman funerary art. Via the iconographic analysis of the decorations in the SS Peter and Paul Burial Chamber and the Burial Chamber with the Jar, the identity of the commissioners can be assumed. The various iconographic elements and the compositions as a whole were used in the different levels of contempora-neous communication, which will be interpreted through the concept of âlanguage gamesâ according to Ludwig Wittgensteinâs epistemology. Six hypotheses explaining the repertoire of biblical scenes in early Christian artefacts are investigated and evaluated. The question of the presence of martyr relics (especially that of the Sancti Quattro Coronati) in this cemetery is considered and relevant hypotheses evaluated. The iconographic parallels of the key motifs in the SS Peter and Paul Bur-ial Chamber, such as the Christogram and the images of Peter and Paul, are pre-sented
Csigi, PĂ©ter JĂĄnos
Shades of identity : an iconographic approach to the early Christian burial chambers in Sopianae (Pannonia). There are several burial chambers in the Late Antique cemetery of the Roman town of Sopianae in Pannonia province (modern Hungary) decorated with wall paintings resembling Roman catacomb art. These underground chambers from the second half of the fourth century contain both specifically Christian images as well as gen-eral motifs in Roman funerary art. Via the iconographic analysis of the decorations in the SS Peter and Paul Burial Chamber and the Burial Chamber with the Jar, the identity of the commissioners can be assumed. The various iconographic elements and the compositions as a whole were used in the different levels of contempora-neous communication, which will be interpreted through the concept of âlanguage gamesâ according to Ludwig Wittgensteinâs epistemology. Six hypotheses explaining the repertoire of biblical scenes in early Christian artefacts are investigated and evaluated. The question of the presence of martyr relics (especially that of the Sancti Quattro Coronati) in this cemetery is considered and relevant hypotheses evaluated. The iconographic parallels of the key motifs in the SS Peter and Paul Bur-ial Chamber, such as the Christogram and the images of Peter and Paul, are pre-sented
identity iconographic early_christian burial chamber several burial chamber late_antique cemetery roman_town province modern hungary decorate wall_painting resemble roman art underground chamber contain specifically christian image well gen motif roman_funerary art via iconographic_analysis decoration peter paul burial chamber burial chamber jar identity commissioner assume various iconographic element composition whole use different_level communication interpret concept language game accord ludwig_wittgenstein epistemology hypotheses explain repertoire biblical scene early_christian artefact investigate evaluate question presence martyr relic especially cemetery consider_relevant hypothesis evaluate iconographic parallel key motif peter paul chamber image peter paul pre