Publication details
‛Secondary’ Figurative Elements as Hints for Function? The case of the St Menas ivory pyxis
| Title in English | ?Secondary’ Figurative Elements as Hints for Function? The case of the St Menas ivory pyxis |
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| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | The present paper focuses on the ivory pyxis depicting the martyrdom and sanctuary of Saint Menas displayed at the British Museum in London. Specifically, it aims to tackle the question of its original function and context of the use, which, as in the case of those of the almost fifty other exemplars surviving from Late Antiquity (fourth–seventh centuries CE), are still shrouded in mystery. Remarkably, the object is the only example whose decorations are devoted to a saint and thus constitutes an interesting exception in the frame of the study of these precious containers. Therefore, my contribution will suggest – albeit without irrefutable evidence – three different lines of interpretation that will re-locate the object into three different functional contexts on the bases of iconographical, archaeological, and textual evidence. Ultimately, the contribution wishes to make a further step towards de-marginalizing these mysterious vessels. |
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