Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;GinoLR, post: 8237809, member: 128351&quot;]I like the porphyry statue of the Four Tetrarchs. It sends a clear message about the new nature of the imperial power. </p><p>It is in porphyry, a purple stone which is imperial monopoly. Porphyry means imperial. </p><p>The imperial college is composed of two Augusts and two Caesars, each Caesar is supposed to be his August&#039;s adopted son. This is what we see : the two Augusts, supposed to be fathers, are bearded, and clutch their respective Caesar son, which is identical but unbearded (supposed to be younger). </p><p>There is zero individualisation in this icon : the four wear exactly the same uniform, there is no other rank insignia than bearded (= August) or not (= Caesar). Even more significant, the four have the same features, their faces look identical. Their foreheads are conspicuously wrinkled, which is a conventional feature of Herakles - Hercules (we can see it on Alexander coins as soon as the 4th c. BC and it is the way Caracalla wanted to be depicted). </p><p>They are not four emperors, but one single and unique imperial (thus divine) authority composed of four persons who cannot be dissociated. In the following years the Christian theological concept of Holy Trinity would be much influenced by the political and juridical construction of the Tetrarchy elaborated by Diocletian.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in