Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 31/1. (2011)
Articles
196 D. Petrut-R. Zägreanu The iconography For the iconographical analysis we have considered every type of representation displayed by the stelae from Porolissum. Most of the elements are depicted in relief, with the exception of the pine cone and lion motif which are represented in ronde-bosse technique. As a result of the overview of iconographical elements, the following classification has emerged: I. Funerary symbols a. Everyday objects b. Floral and vegetal symbols c. Animal symbols d. Marine symbols II. Mythological elements III. Elements possibly related to funerary rituals IV. Depictions of the deceased I.a. Within this category, we distinguished the representations of vessels and writing instruments. Among the vessels, only two depictions of cups could be identified, both being attributes of the deceased. On stela no. 14 the cup is integrated in the scene of the funerary banquet, while on fragment no. 30 it is held in the hand of the deceased depicted as a bust. Writing instruments could be identified in one case. On fragment no. 31 the deceased holds in his left hand a scroll of papyrus (volumen), highlighting its presence by pointing a finger from his right hand at it. Considering the iconographical context, the volumen being artificially emphasized, we find it plausible that the scene suggests the idea of citizenship (see: Teposu-Marinescu 1982, 56). I.b. In the case of the floral and vegetal symbols, the following types of representations can be distinguished: acanthus leaves, vine, pine cone, rosette and garland. The occurrence of floral motifs on funerary monuments has been linked to the custom of periodical flower offerings, and particularly the spreading of rose petals on the graves during the celebration known as Rosalia (Hope 2007, 234-235). The vegetal motifs, especially the acanthus leaves, are interpreted as symbols of immortality, because of their ability of maintaining their green color during winter (Ciongradi 2007, 111.) The acanthus leaf is one of the most frequent decorative elements on funerary stelae. In Porolissum it appears on five stelae (1, 5, 7, 8 and 24). In the case of two fragments (1,5) the motif is set in the field of the pediment, for fragment no. 7, 8 and 24 it fills the spandrel, i.e. the space between the edge of the rectangular relief field and the edge of the medallion-shaped niche. On fragment no. 24 (a profiled stela with medallion), the frame is decorated with a vine motif, while for fragment no. 13, the semi column which frames the epigraphic field, displays the same design. On fragment no. 4, we find the motif of the pine cone set in the centre of the coping consisting of lions. As a funerary symbol, the pine cone is referred to both as an attribute of Liber Pater, and as a symbol of immortality and rebirth, therefore linked to the god Attis (Ciongradi 2007, 112). A number of three stelae display the motif of the rosette (2, 9 and 28). Fragments no. 2 and 9 incorporate the motif in pairs of two, symmetrically placed rosettes in the corners outside the pediments. In the case of fragment no. 28, the rosette is attached to a garland held by Amores and a pair of bulls in the relief field of the attic. I.c. The animal motifs are not as frequent and as varied on the stelae of Porolissum as the previous category. Two types were identified: the lion sculpted in ronde-bosse technique as part of the coping of stela no. 4 and the relief representing a pair of bulls, on the fragments belonging
