The Lost Cameo, the Vanished Statue of the Emperor and Constantine as a New Alexander
Piotr Ł. Grotowski
The aim of this paper is to propose a reinterpretation the meaning lost colossus Constantine Great from Forum his name in Constantinople, light iconography emperor on cameo cathedral Pomeranian town Cammin. Although gem was during last war, it known us thanks archival photographs and plaster cast housed at Göttingen University. On basis, Gerda Bruns associated jewel with statue porphyry column New Rome, her identification has since been widely accepted by scholarly milieu. In recent years one able observe growing popularity interpretation among researchers, who however refrain their studies pointing consequences such reconstruction statue’s form.&#x0D; author points out that purposefully chose iconographical type Alexander-ktistes as model for own representation order allude great predecessor founder number cities which bore name. became then part programme celebrations arranged occasion dedication numerous references Alexander played key role. This new understanding colossus, placing its significance within frames political propaganda, better matches actual historical circumstances ruler’s attitude towards Christendom than traditional interpretations recognised Helios or Apollo, thus introduced an incoherence — difficult explain Constantine’s religion. cumbersome question, baffled inquisitive minds already Constantinople Byzantine era, will be considered unsubstantial if we correctly interpret monument solely propagandistic context.
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