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Statuary, the secular and remaining powers in late antiquity

Abstract:
This chapter focuses on the survival and diverse usage of pagan-mythological statuary until the end of Antiquity. In order to explain its continued functioning in late antique centuries, I discuss two ways of viewing: the secular (whereby gods and divinities are seen as symbolic or emblematic for specific aspects of life, particularly elite life), and the religious (whereby gods and divinities retain power and agency). Whereas secular explanations have been given ample attention in recent decades, the power of statues in Late Antiquity, and especially their positive power in the eyes of people who self-identified as Christian, has been largely neglected. I argue that it is worthwhile exploring this route further to help explain why these statues remained so omnipresent in the cityscape.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Files:
Publisher copy:
10.33134/ahead-4-5

Authors

More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
HUMS
Department:
History
Oxford college:
University College
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-6776-3633

Contributors

Role:
Editor
ORCID:
0000-0003-0898-3921
Role:
Editor
ORCID:
0000-0002-6661-1379
Role:
Editor


Publisher:
Helsinki University Press
Host title:
Being Pagan, Being Christian in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages
Pages:
85-118
Chapter number:
5
Series:
AHEAD: Advanced Studies in the Humanities and Social Sciences
Series number:
4
Place of publication:
Helsinki
Publication date:
2023-12-28
Edition:
1
DOI:
EISSN:
2737-2812
EISBN:
9789523690981
ISBN:
9789523690974


Language:
English
Keywords:
Subtype:
Chapter
Pubs id:
2306611
UUID:
uuid_a02285ef-a052-471b-8582-8c5c01a41472
Local pid:
pubs:2306611
Source identifiers:
W4390320904
Deposit date:
2026-01-30
ARK identifier:

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