Verlag Holzhausen – förlag

Written as a volume of distinct exhaustive studies, ‘Latin Inscriptions form the Legionary Fortress of Apulum’ is more than a technically crafted corpus of inscriptions, treating each discovery as a ripe source for unique information on Roman army life and politics.The inscriptions discovered in the legionary fortress of Apulum, the capital of Dacia, are exceptional finds, exclusively in situ, most of them from the headquarters (principia), but also from the barracks area. Because of this particular quality, they are more than individual texts, also becoming objects that, because of their precise findspot may reveal valuable information on use of space, private or public functionality of monuments or iconographic language of the political acts of the army.In the volume one can find collective or individual statue bases of emperors, on their precise findspot, lists of centurions and special dedications by important officers and governors, the emergence of Serapis in the official spaces of the army, the worship place of the century in the barracks and not last, the first double confirmation (epigraphic and archaeological) of a military prison. With an inventory of the earlier epigraphic finds in the fortress, the volume attempts to suggest the magnificent view that one could have had when strolling through a legionary fortress: alleys between barracks decorated with statues and altars to the genii, crossroads with garnished sundials and the principia courtyard filled with imperial statues on impressive marble bases, finally the sanctuary of the eagle, where only Jupiter and Mars were also tolerated.Because of its multi-level of information provided, the volume could be a valuable instrument both to the student of the Roman army and epigraphy and to the experienced scholar, envisaging wider, more inclusive approaches.

Research from the Austria Romana project is represented in the current volume with a numismatic contribution on the settlement and villa complex at Bruckneudorf, as well as on bird-shaped glass vessels from Virunum. Aspects of the urbanisation of Pompeii, in particular the connection between Regio VI and the so-called Old Town, are re-evaluated with the aid of recent geophysical and geodetic investigations and discussed on a broad historical and archaeological basis. Initial findings on the material culture of Abthugnos, situated in the hinterland of Carthage, were generated during a surface survey and are presented for the first time in this volume. The ÖAI’s research in Ephesus is represented by two contributions: on the one hand, a previously unpublished clay seal from the Byzantine period found in the Artemision is presented; with its depiction of a horseman saint, it is interpreted as evidence of everyday Christian piety. On the other hand, the series of new inscriptions from Ephesus is continued: Number 16 is devoted to the inscriptions incorporated into the Byzantine aqueduct bridge at Selçuk. The province of Asia also includes the theatre of Nicaea, which was equipped with caryatid galleries and for which a gender-segregated seating arrangement has been reconstructed. Richly illustrated are archaic roof terracotta tiles from Epidamnos (now Durrës) in present-day Albania, which, amongst other things, formed part of an unusual roof of the Corinthian order. Also dating from the late Archaic period is a red-figure amphora in the collection of the Institute of Classical Archaeology at the University of Vienna, which is attributed to Oltos and for which a new name inscription is being put forward for discussion. At first glance, a contribution on the medieval Vienna Imperial Crown may seem surprising. However, as part of a large-scale research project, three previously unknown ancient amethyst intaglios with extraordinary depictions, which are incorporated into the crown, have been identified. They are presented here for the first time and classified on the basis of possible parallels.

This issue of the ÖJh also includes articles on Austrian research in Ephesus. In addition to a further instalment on inscriptions – this time focusing on funerary inscriptions – the journal presents inscriptions on pottery shards (ostraca and instrumenta domestica) from the so-called Serapeion, as well as a new discovery: an early imperial portrait head from the Cores Gate. Furthermore, an overview of the corpus of Ephesian sarcophagi is provided. Research into Hellenistic defensive structures in the surrounding area of Ephesus was carried out by Turkish scholars, who present their findings. The trade network of Corinth is examined on the basis of provenance analyses of white marble. Many of the sculptures examined were associated with the imperial cult and the patronage of urban elites. The provenance analyses not only help to understand trade dynamics, they also demonstrate the distribution of Asia Minor marble in the eastern Mediterranean during the Roman period and underscore the economic and cultural significance of Corinth for the Roman Empire. The so-called Palace Mosaic of Constantinople, covering a total area of over 1,800 m², was located in the palace quarter of the Byzantine emperors and has been the subject of lively debate since its discovery. The article presented in this volume attempts to explore the visual context of the depictions, focusing in particular on the border zones, which have hitherto been neglected. The ‘Cupid and Psyche’ sarcophagus from Sirmium, now in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, dates to the 2nd century AD and has been subjected to detailed material analysis for the first time. Using non-invasive examination methods, traces of what was once rich polychromy have been identified. Building on the scientific findings, the iconographic classification of the sarcophagus is carried out from an archaeological and art-historical perspective. The presentation of the most important written and archaeological sources concerning the genesis and worship of the Roman god Priapus, and the discussion of the dissemination of his various types of representation along the Amber Road within a literary context, takes place within the framework of a comprehensive and richly illustrated discussion.