Roman tomb monuments from Asseria

Abstract

Tomb monuments usually called Libumian cippuses were made in great numbers in the Liburnian-Roman Asseria. Since this group of monuments has been studied a great deal, it is much more important to investigate other types of tomb monuments from Asseria and the surroundings. Here we deal with more important stellae and sarcophagi. Three complete slcllae and a fragment have ben preserved, and three sarcophagi. All slcllae arc monumental and architecturally structured with portraits. It seems that all stellue formally originate from northern Italy. Problems partly arise only with the stclle Vadica which has doors on the lower part of the monument, as wall many slcllae of soldiers from Tilurium and environs. Therefore the door could have arrived there by the intermediacy of masters who came in Burnum looking for work especially after the 7ill Roman legion was moved to the Dunubc limes. But it is more likely that the form on the door was created under the north Italic influence. This clement is explained by its structural and architectonic origin, denying the symbolic meaning (the gates of Haddcs or the influence of Metroic religion). All slcllae have qualitatively made portraits which means that they were made by excellent masters. The stellac are dated in the 1 st c. The stclle from KaSid and the fragment from Asseria are earlier the middle of the 1st c. The stela Vadica belongs to around the middle of the 1st c., the stele from Ostrovica to the Flavian area (the end of the 1st c.). A fragment of an Attic sarcophagus with the scene of drunken boys is outstanding among the sarcophagi. 'I his theme was common in Attic production. The sarcophagus is probably from the end of the 2nd c. The lid of the sarcophagus from around Asseria. made of Proconesian marble, is very important. The sarcophagus had an unusual form: the lid is planned with a dual concept - in the shape of house roof and in the shape of elino with deceased in lying position. These two lids arc structurally incompatible. The initial design probably left the choice of the final shape open until lire last moment, depending on the wish of the buyer. One of them could have been struck off simply. The decision, however, was not made in this case (from unkown reasons). It is interesting that this is not the only example of sarcophagus mude of Proconesian marble which had such dual form. Actually the best known example of a sarcophagus of Proconesian marble, the one representing the Good shepherd from Salonu, was conceived in the same way and the definite form has not been chosen. The Asscrian example is eralier than one from Salona, probably from the second half of the 3rd c. On the basis of monuments analysed it is clear that Asseria was a centre of a region where excellent sculptors worked and where there was a need for sophisticated Roman tombstones besides local Liburnian cippuses.