Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 31/1. (2011)
Articles
192 D. PeTRUT-R. ZÄGREANU The results of our investigation show the presence of all three main categories of funerary stelae: 1) architectural stelae, 2) profiled stelae, and 3) stelae without decorative elements, as well as an obvious inclination towards the profiled stelae. This situation is characteristic for Dacia Porolissensis in general, but also for stone carving centres like Micia and Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa, in Dacia Superior (Ciongradi 2007, 42, 54). Type I. Architectural stelae A. Aedicula-stelae: 1 (Fig. 1/a) B. Triangular pediment and arched niche: 2-3 (Fig. 1/b) Type II. Profiled stelae A. Inscription field and coping consisting of funerary lions: 4 (Fig. 1/c) B. Rectangular relief field and coping consisting of funerary lions or triangular pediment: 5-6 (PI. 1/d) C. Triangular pediment and medallion-shaped niche: 7-8 (Fig. 1/e) D. Triangular pediment and inscription field: 9 (Fig. 1/f) Type III. Stelae with no decorative elements: 10-12 Type IV. Fragments of stelae with relative typology A. Architectural stelae: 13 B. Profiled stelae: 14-22 C. Profiled stelae with medallion-shaped niche: 23-24 D. stelae with enclosed triangular pediment: 25-26 E. Triangular pediment and acroteria: 27 F. stelae with attic: 28-29 G. Figured stelae: 30-32 H. Fragments with unknown typology: 33-42 Type I.A. Aedicula-stelae6 In the archaeological literature, the stela from Porolissum belonging to this category (1) benefited only from brief discussions, mainly in catalogue descriptions (Gudea-Lucäcel 1975, 42-43, no. 140; Gudea 1989, 789, no. 103, pi. CCCI). C. Daicoviciu, when publishing the piece for the first time, recognized its resemblance with the funerary aediculae, labelling it “a funerary monument in shape of an aedicula” (Daicoviciu 1940, 324, fig. 22, “Grabdenkmal in Gestalt einer aedicula"). L. Teposu-Marinescu (1982, 171, no. 46, pl. XXI), and later on L. Bianchi (1985, 68), by virtue of the two lateral relief fields, ascribed the piece to the category of “funerary altars in shape of an aedicula”. The two adjacent relief fields placed on both sides of the monument contain the depiction of a waiting servant on the left side and of a mourning woman (praefica), on the right (Petrut-Mustatä 2010, 185, no. 27). This feature, correlated with the main relief field of the monument which holds the representation of the commemorated deceased, is consistent with the arrangement of the figurative decor on funerary aediculae. In our opinion, the structure of the monument shows clearly the intent to emulate the funerary aediculae, popular in the province (Teposu-Marinescu 1982, 33-36), but 6 The term aedicula-stelae (sometimes used as pseudo-aedicula) is applied to the type of stelae which reproduce the morphology specific to the facade of aedicula type constructions. The main architectural elements that define these monuments are: triangular pediment, architrave, the relief field with the representation of the deceased flanked by two columns, and an inscription field in the lower part of the monument.
