Robert SturmDiana – Die Darstellung der römischen Göttin in antiken und postantiken Quellen

About this book deutschenglish

The goddess Diana disposed of an extraordinary charisma in Roman mythology. This popularity, however, was reflected in a multitude of ancient texts, images, and buildings. Any systematic treatise of this topic, which is of equal interest for experts and non-experts, has not been available in German- and English-language literature hitherto. The present work is a summary of all those ancient sources that correspond with the Roman goddess. Practically each famous Roman poet integrated Diana within his work by writing single verses or longer text passages dedicated to the goddess. Regarding wall painting, mosaic art, and sculpture, Diana’s importance for Roman society can only be reproduced very schematically with the help of preserved exhibits. Additionally, Diana entered the Roman monetary system, although her image was banned from the face side of the coins to the reverse during the age of empire.

A special issue is given by the post-antique perception of the goddess. As demonstrated by the work, the revivification of the Diana topos reached a culmination during Early Modern Age and also represents a noticeable artistic aspect at present. Especially the high aristocracy in Europe left no remedy untried to acquire a sculpture or painting of the goddess created by famous artists. Here, the book mainly attempts to construct a connection between antique and post-antique connoisseurship. By that means the work succeeds in breaking with a purely archaeological study and also includes more modern historical questions. In this context the development of the Diana subject over the course of 2,500 years represents an interesting problem. The book offers an explanation attempt for this and other aspects.