K. Palágyi Sylvia szerk.: Balácai Közlemények 2008/10. (Veszprém, 2008)

KIRCHHOF, ANITA: The decorative system and reconstruction of the red dining room at Baláca - A balácai vörös ebédlő dekorációs rendszere és rekonstrukciója

ing behind holds a spear in his right hand while the figure walking in front holds the leash of a hunting dog which leads the group. We have no data on the continuation of the field because the adjoining fragments are missing, though, considering that the representation followed the principle of symmetry, we suppose that the composition was ended by a similar scene of a deer between two trees. In an opposite direction, from the left to the right can be supposed for that series of two picture fields with red background colour which represents in minor fields, divided by trees, escaping maned animals with a long tail, most probably horses.

79 (Fig. 6.) Against the red backbackground we see not only escaping animals (chased animals) but also other genre scenes. In a series of scenes, also with a direction from the left to the right we find at first a medallion, closing a picture fields,then the representation of a crater

m and beside it a figure in profile, carrying an olive-branch with his left hand while with his right hand he touches a trophaeum in front of him. On the top of the trophaeum there is a helmet and a shield is propped against its right side. (Fig. 7.) A four-sided table, too, is represented against red background, below it the bottom-line can be detected very well. On the table there is a balsamarium in the form of a human bust with a Phrygian cap. Beside it there is another object, which cannot be identified because of the damaged surface, probably it was a small oil-vessel. The feet of the table form curved animal feet, on the horizontal lathes between the feet on each side two strigilis are hanging. At the top of the picture field, leaves of an oil-branch bend over the small table (Fig. 8.) Most probably that scene, too, which cannot be seen very well because of its damaged surface, but obviously represents the figure of a prize-fighter or of a wrestler with a crown(?), owing to the winner, belonged to this picture field. Directly behind the athlete is visible a part of a cantharos. (Fig. 9) Also against a red background, directly beside the medallion closing the picture field, there is the representation of a small vessel and to the left of it there is a tree with a larger crown. (Fig. 10.) They were maybe part of a sacrificial scene. More than one interpretation of the scenes and of their relationship painted on the red background is possible. The grazing animals between the trees and the escaping animals together with the carrying of the quarry suggest hunting scene. The small vessel beside the tree, too, could be part of a sacrificial scene, connected with an offering for a successful hunting. We can find a connection between the two scenes on the basis of the representation of the tree. The other scene on a red background represents a completely different event, with the prize-fighter and the small table together with the accessories necessary for the struggle and with the part of the olive-branch. There is no proof of the hypothesis that the fragment with the tropaeum shared the same picture field together with the small table and the prize-fighter, though it is probable. The presence of the olive-branch contradicts a tropaeum involving a military event, it was obviously the award of the winner of the games. Among scenes depicted against background of different colours human figures appear only on those ones which have a red background. These human figures wear in every instance a hat. Though because of the worn condition of the painting it cannot been proved that on the head of the prize-fighter, too, there was not the crown of the winner but rather a hat, it seems very probable. The participants of riding demonstrations used to wear similar caps,

81 though other representations which can refer to chariot race scenes cannot be found among the fragments with red background. The deers and hinds chased and killed among the trees and after it the carrying of the quarry home form a narrative story, fitting well to the representation of