Half-Human Half-Vegetal Hybrids in Eastern Mosaics
Stéphanie Derwael
The aim of this paper is to investigate the evolution use half-human half-vegetal figures, so-called Rankenfrau and Rankengott, in pavements Eastern Mediterranean, from their appearance Classical period appropriation Roman Christian times. contextualised analysis corpus, combined with a comparison other media such as architectural sculpture, provide good opportunity better understand what extent motif varied at different times how worldview commissioners decors can, or not, affect meaning. In Hellenistic contexts, vegetalisation human body seems plastically translate prerogatives divinities wild nature, growth, life. Through mastery primitive savagery, these deities allow coexistence two natures bring divine prosperity into everyday figures inherited Greek world went through an unprecedented formal syntactic diversification. A new variant even created: foliate head, which concentrates force vital principle appears metonymic representation its primordial spontaneous fecundity. pavements, bearded beardless heads are associated young boys peopled scroll borders public rooms rich houses. They evoked impulse that made beneficial for wealthy owners. During 6th century AD, whilst survive monuments, Rankengott seem disappear repertoire.
Journal of mosaic research|DergiPark (Istanbul University)