Depictions of Enemies of the Roman State
Conference Year
January 2019
Abstract
This project explores the iconographical meaning of the colored marble used in depictions of foreigners and as the Romans called them barbarians. We can see examples of these images dotted throughout the empire and frequently juxtaposed underneath triumphant rulers. Though we are used to classical statues being made of bright white marble, the images discussed here were made of marble naturally rich in color. The goal is to find out why.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
William Mierse
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Arts and Sciences
Program/Major
Art History
Primary Research Category
Arts & Humanities
Depictions of Enemies of the Roman State
This project explores the iconographical meaning of the colored marble used in depictions of foreigners and as the Romans called them barbarians. We can see examples of these images dotted throughout the empire and frequently juxtaposed underneath triumphant rulers. Though we are used to classical statues being made of bright white marble, the images discussed here were made of marble naturally rich in color. The goal is to find out why.