Archeologia Tardoantica

This book derives from the doctoral thesis of the author. The Molise was a small region of central Italy that has been little studied by archaeologists. This study has attempted to fill the gaps in our knowledge with the collection and systematic comparison of all the historical, epigraphic, archaeological documentation pertaining to Molise in the period comprising the middle to late Roman period and the high middle ages. The aim was to write the first general synthesis concerning the transformations taking place in the cities and countryside in what was a strategic zone close to Rome, and place this in the context of the recently developing debate about the Italian landscape in late antiquity.

In the last decade ivory diptychs have continued to stimulate debate among historians, art historians and archaeologists and have been protagonists of many exhibitions. These artefacts represent a very particular production that was affirmed during the Late Antiquity, remaining alive for centuries. The many problems posed by this class of materials are numerous and suggestive. Here a diptych classification is proposed based on the material and functional features.

Thie contribution deals with Rome’s urban landscape as it is presented within the Late Antique Actus of St. Sylvester, a legend concerning Christianity’s triumph in the metropolis. In the text, a number of locations can be recognized, presenting the cityscape as structured on a topographical dichotomy between the Lateran and the Capitoline Hill, respectively recontextualized as quintessential pivots of Polytheism and Christianity.
Reprising an old theory formulated in the ’30s, the present study focuses on some references that the Actus makes to specific Pre-Christian cults when describing the liar of a dragon on the Capitolium, highlighting how they can be read as explicit references to the Mithras worship.
The archaeological record is accordingly explored, highlighting the rooting of such cult on the hill, confirmed by several dedicatory inscriptions and by one of the largest known Mithraic reliefs.
Ultimately, the article argues that the practice of the Mithras cult on the Capitoline Hill could have enjoyed such high prestige among the Late Antique upper classes to foster, at least during the 6th century, the perception of the local spelaea as particularly well-fitting settings for the abode of a monster symbolizing the Early Medieval concept of “Paganism” as a whole.

Several groups of monuments, recognizable within the corpus of architectural decoration and church furnishing of the Early
Christian churches in area of the province of Dalmatia, are obviously the result of the existence of a larger number of workshop
centres in this area. Distinct differences between these groups are evident in the shape of the elements, the way they were
made, as well as in the choice and in the ways of composing decorative motives on them. Partly, the differences are undoubtedly
the result of the transformation i.e. the development of the shape during time, but also, the differences may not have been
conditioned chronologically, but spatially. By mapping particular groups of monuments, certain regularity may be noticed
within their spatial grouping. Spatial grouping of products of particular workshops greatly correspond to the supposed territorial
organization of the church under the jurisdiction of the Salonitan metropolis. As stonemason workshops during Late
Antiquity were primarily directed towards the demand generated by the church in order to secure their own existence, their
connection with the church centres may be rightfully presumed.

Il sito di Sant'Anastasio è un contesto pluristratificato frequentato in maniera continuativa fino ai giorni nostri, situato nel cuore della città di Asti, in un'area considerata centrale anche in età romana e medievale. L'articolo si propone di tracciare le trasformazioni del sito dal periodo tardoantico all'altomedioevo e di indagare l'articolazione sociale del gruppo umano che utilizzò il cimitero di S. Anastasio. I dati desunti sono stati elaborati alla luce delle tendenze ravvisabili in ambito regionale e sovraregionale in modo da contribuire alla ricostruzione della storia della città all'interno del panorama piemontese, tenendo in particolare considerazione l'area a sud del Po attraversata dal fiume Tanaro e dalla via Fulvia.

«1396-1996. I Brandolini. Da Capitani di Ventura a Nobili feudatari. 600° anniversario della morte di Brandolino Brandolini, Conte di Zumelle» –– Atti del Convegno 20 aprile 1996, stampati per conto del Circolo da De Bastiani Ed., Vittorio Veneto, settembre 1996 –– Sommario: (1) IMPERIO Loredana, Presentazione degli Atti del Convegno pp. 5-6; (2) SALVADOR Antonio, Monte Castellazzo. Insediamento tardo romano-altomedievale nella Valmareno pp. 7-21; (3) POSOCCO Franco; La contea di Valmareno: il territorio, l'insediamento, il castello pp. 22-42; (4) RUZZA Vincenzo, La Valmareno prima dell'infeudazione ai condottieri Gattamelata e Brandolini pp. 43-62; (5) RICCA ROSELLINI Elisabetta, Gli Antichi Brandolini a Bagnacavallo e Forlì pp. 63-80; (6) MORELLI Sante, I Brandolini di Bagnacavallo e la loro devozione a Santa Caterina d'Alessandria pp. 81-84; (7) IMPERIO Loredana, Il Gattamelata, Conte Brandolino e suo figlio Tiberto, signore di Castell'Arquato pp. 85-114; (8) FALDON Nilo,Giovanni (Gianconte) Brandolini e la riconquista o liberazione di Serravalle dalle truppe imperiali di Massimiliano I pp. 115-128; (9) ZOCCOLETTO Giorgio (cur.), I Conti Brandolini al servizio della Serenissima dalla guerra di Cipro all'assedio di Gradisca pp. 129-163; (10) DELFINI FILIPPI Gabriella, Oreficeria sacra nel territorio vittoriese al tempo dei Brandolini: l'esempio delle chiese parrocchiali di Cison di Valmarino e Tovena pp. 165-171; (11) MASCHIO Giorgio; La figura e l'opera del vescovo Sigismondo Brandolini pp. 173-192; (12) MIES Giorgio, Arte e artisti al servizio dei Brandolini pp. 193-206; (13) ZOCCOLETTO Giorgio (cur.), La giurisdizione feudale dei nobili Brandolini "in materia di vino" pp. 207-238

This article presents a proposal for chronological phases to late antiquity in the
town of Alicante, on the basis of a detailed archaeological survey of archaeological sites
excavated, its stratigraphy, the material record and absolute dating, analyzed in the
context geo- policy area where it is confined.
Key words: Alicante, late antiquity, cementery, commerce, Christianity, urbanism.

Cheikh Zouède est un village localisé sur la côte ouest du Sinaï, entre Rafah (19 km au sud) et El' Arîche et quelques dizaines de kilomètres de Gaza (54 km au S.-O. de Gaza et 144 km de Jérusalem). Il est identifié avec Bitulion, une ville épiscopale au VIe siècle dont l'histoire remonte à l'époque sémitique avec quelques fondations. A l'époque ptolémaïque existe un bourg, Bytyl, témoigné par la céramique rhodienne (amphores estampillées).
La fouille de 1913 n'était qu'un dégagement rapide des vestiges archéologiques sans méthode au sens actuel du terme. La mosaïque figurative (4,75 x 3 m), très bien conservée, occupe la partie Est d'une grande pièce rectangulaire (7,25 x 6,60 m). A l'ouest de cette mosaïque est juxtaposé un panneau géométrique (1, 72 x 1,65 m). Ces deux mosaïques polychromes contrastent avec le sol monochrome en tesselles blanche.
Le visiteur se trouvait d'abord en face d'une longue inscription, le panneau central déroulé en deux registres figurait un thiase dionysiaque, enfin le dernier illustrait le mythe de Phèdre et d'Hippolyte accompagné au-dessus d'une inscription et couronné d'une autre.
L’auteur analyse trois inscriptions et trois images figurées du point de vue du vocabulaire utilises, de  l’iconographie ainsi que de l’iconologie en suivant leurs apparitions depuis la tragédie grecque jusqu’ à l’époque tardive.
Nous nous demandons si l'inscription contre le Mauvais Œil et l'Envie est placée intentionnellement près du mythe de Phèdre et d'Hippolyte. Il fait allusion aux conséquences destructrices d'un regard maléfique, malheur à celui qui tenterait d'entrer avec de semblables intentions. l'hypothèse nous semble défendable. Nous connaissons toute une série d'inscriptions exprimant l'idée : « Que l'on souhaite du bien ou du mal, il sera rendu au double ».
Dionysos et Héraclès sont associés dans les écrits théologiques de Julien. Le premier veille que la vie ait un sens et le deuxième est un dieu <<gardien>> et <<protecteur>> du monde. Ces caractéristiques attribuées à Dionysos et à Héraclès expliquent leur présence sur cette mosaïque.
Il serait tout à fait justifié de comparer le programme de la mosaïque de Cheikh Zouède avec celui de la villa gauloise de Vinon en Narbonnaise interprétée d'une façon excellente par Henri Lavagne. Nous voyons aussi quelques parallèles avec des inscriptions saluant le visiteur (HAIREI) et l’avertissant (KAISU) en même temps. C'est le cas de la maison de Dionysos à Néa Paphos qui a fait l’objet d’une très bonne étude de Ch. Kondelon. Les mosaïques du vestibule de la maison du Mauvais Œil ont également le pouvoir protecteur comme Doro Levi l’a justement expliqué.
Ce pavement du Sinaï d'une vaste propriété nous laisse penser que ses habitants devaient être hellénisées et profondément païens. Ils se servent de la mythologie pour décorer leur demeure et se protègent contre l'intrusion des forces maléfiques. Le propriétaire est un homme cultivé et le filokalos. Le choix des sujets mythologiques pour représenter des idées qui sont exprimées sur d'autres mosaïques d'une façon beaucoup moins sophistiquée témoigne de son goût raffiné. La date de l'exécution de la mosaïque reste discutable, malgré quelques analogies iconographiques et stylistiques suggérant plutôt la période entre les premières moitiés du IVe et du Ve siècles ( sur la datation et le style de la mosaïque cf. M. T. Olszewski, La mosaïque de style naïf de Cheikh Zouède au Sinaï , Archeologia (Warsaw) 53, 2002, pp. 45–61, pls III+VI).

This article presents a proposal for chronological phases to late antiquity in the town of Alicante, on the basis of a detailed archaeological survey of archaeological sites excavated, its stratigraphy, the material record and absolute dating, analyzed in the context geo-policy area where it is confined.

The excitement of discovering monuments slightly or totally not known to archaeological studies has always been a non-secondary aspect of common feel in our discipline. Sensationalist reports are very often proposed by scholars to people, that sometimes constitute a valid contribution to the historical reconstruction of the territory, other times they are interpretations that in the light of a more careful examination, they reveal themselves unsubstantiated or they are lacking of the necessary method of analysis to support a hypothesis. This article shows some "discoveries" of recent years in the province of Palermo which the Soprintendenza, after a careful evaluation of the data, thought to be not convincing, for they don't own any foundation or because there are not enough elements to consider them truthful. The Soprintendenza, however, want to highlight that even in these cases dialogue and confrontation, essential elements for historical research, are always appropriate.