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

slightly undulating manner vine-tendrils covered with red bunches of grapes ran upwards in a vertical direction in which with the aid of vine-tendrils cutting each other diamond-shaped picture fields with chamfered corners had been created. The bunches of grapes, vine-leaves hanging from the vine-tendrils which cover almost the whole surface of the picture, are determinant elements of the scenes represented also in the picture fields and they give the candelabrum the character of impenetrability. According to the supposed height of red panels of the wall field four picture fields can be constructed over the candelabrums. (Fig. 3.) The middle picture field had got at eye-level, there is at the same level as the medallions with still life pictures in the red panels are. In one of the fields placed most probably at eye-level a tragic theatre mask is represented and elaborated as a realistic head. There are Dionysiac symbols around the head,

213 that is a thyrsos was represented at the left side of the head, the brown hair is wreathed with ivy and vine-shoot, at the right side of the head there is a cantharus full of wine. (Fig. 22.) A joint representation of theatre mask or masks and of Dionysiac paraphernalia is frequent in Roman fine arts.

214 Masks were frequently represented on mosaics and on wall-paintings as well.

215 Another fragment, which was part of a scene from a picture field, represents the foot and belly of a small bird. The animal was most probably at the right side of the picture field and perhaps it was just picking up the grapes of the bunch of grape hanging down into the other side of the picture field. Because of the missing fragments at present we are unable to decide whether this bird representation had decorated a picture field placed at eye-level or not. It is probable, however, that masks similar to the tragic mask painted with an almost lifelike exactness were placed similarly at eye-level in the candelabrums within the room. Three stone carvings are similar to the decoration of the Baláca candelabrums. One of them is known from Aquincum

216 and two of them are known from Neumagen 217 where two vine-tendrils cutting each other on a vine-stock in the middle create oval fields and within and outside of them bunches of grapes are carved, on one of the carvings also a bird representation can be observed. Though the lower parts of the candelabrums were started with the combinations of different colours (blue-green-red or blue-green-yellow combinations), the plants belonging to these parts are always similar to each other. Presumably in every candelabrum bunches of red grapes are represented with green leaves, within the picture field at eye-level masks with maybe different mimicking were placed, while within the other picture fields there were birds and the colours of their feathers by all means matched the colours of the plants represented at the feet of the candelabrums. The presence of those fragments on which we may observe columns serving the border of the candelabrums and lapped around with ribbons of alternating colours in an opposite direction testifies that several candelabrums decorated similarly with bunches of red grape had existed within the same room. The decoration of the candelabrums suits well the other representations in the room. Drinks were obligatory parts of meals. Romans used to drink wine made of grape which they usually began to sip after finishing the meals, though it happened that they drank also after the different courses.

218 Another obligatory event of the evening feasts (coena) were the theatrical performances

219 which could be an explanation for the representation of the theatre mask peeping out of the vine arbour. The vine arbour refers to the consumption of wine, the mask(s). together wit the Dionysiac paraphernalia to theatrical art, though all are connected with the god Dionysus/Bacchus, with the festival in honour of him.

220 The representations within the