Εικονιστικά αγάλματα στα θέατρα και τα ωδεία των ανατολικών επαρχιών της ρωμαϊκής αυτοκρατορίας

Abstract

Subject of the present thesis is the study of portrait statues that stood in theaters and odeons ofthe eastern provinces during the imperial period. The aim is to examine these statues in closeconnection with the place in which they stood. According to the surviving sculptures andstatue bases of our catalog, the erecting of statues in the theaters of the eastern provincesbegins in the Julio-Claudian period and ends at the time of Theodosius A΄. The highestconcentration of statues is observed during the Antonine period, a phenomenon that is relatedto the economic and cultural development of these provinces at that time. The majority of malestatues are represented in cuirass and himation and rarely wearing toga, in the heroic nude andchlamys. For the women statues a variety of statue-types is observed. Most of the statues aredisplayed in niches at the facade of the scaenae frons, where the imperial statues occupy themost privileged positions. Statues are also displayed in the cavea, in the entrances and lessoften in the orchestra and in the porticus post scaenam. The function of the imperial statues intheaters has to do with the demonstration of the power of the Roman Empire. Furthermore,these statues replaced the physical presence of the emperor, when he was not present duringmeetings, trials and other similar events that took place in theaters. Next to the imperialstatues, private portraits are placed, in which office holders in the service of the imperialadministration and local high-ranking magistrates are depicted. In these statues representationsof priests, priestesses, athletes, actors and educated men and women are also included. Thehonorands are often wealthy benefactors, the most prominent citizens in the provinces, who,through the erection of their statues in theaters, highlight and express the tradition, social statusand cultural identity of their families. The presence of portrait statutes in theaters decreasedsignificantly during the 4th century A.D., which is probably associated with the changes in theadministration of the Empire and the prevalence of Christianity. The end of the roman imperialperiod marks the end of the portrait statues in theaters.