Geç Antik Dönem Trakya’sında Deniz Mozaikleri

Year 2023, Issue: 16, 361 - 375, 03.11.2023

Ivo Topalılov

https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.1376863

Abstract

Deniz mozaiklerinin Roma İmparatorluğu’nda, özellikle de termal hamamlar ve triclinialarda en popüler mozaik kaplamalar arasında yer aldığı varsayılmaktadır. Bu nedenle deniz mozaiklerinin Erken Hristiyan sanatında yaygın olarak görülmesinin şaşırtıcı olmadığı düşünülmüştür. Geç antik dönem Trakyası da bu eğilimin bir istisnası gibi görünmemektedir, ancak şimdiye kadar bu tür mozaiklerin çok az örneği keşfedilmiştir. Bu makale, Serdica bölgesindeki bir villa suburbana’da bulunan üç örneğin yanısıra Philippopolis ve Augusta Traiana’daki evlerde bulunan diğer örnekleri ele almaktadır. Hepsi 4. yüzyıla tarihlenen bu mozaik döşemeler, deniz temasının iç Trakya kentlerindeki Geç Antik Çağ mozaiklerinde yayılan en popüler temalar arasında yer almadığını gösteren farklı ikonografilere sahiptir. Bunun yerine, kullanımları Iulianus’un 361-362’de Trakya’ya ilerlemesi ya da bir ev sahibinin kendisini konuklarına zengin bir tüccar olarak sunma isteği ve ihtiyacı gibi belirli tarihsel koşullara bağlanabilir. ‘Klasik’ ikonografiye sahip Philippopolitan mozaiğinin Hristiyanlıkla ilgili bir anlamı da olabilir. Bu çalışma, belki de Trakya’nın kıyı kentlerinde keşfedilmeyi bekleyen başka örneklerin gerekli desteğinden yoksun olsa da, Trakya’daki deniz mozaiklerinin dağılımını ve Geç Antik Çağ’da bölgedeki mozaik sanatının gelişimindeki rollerini daha doğru bir şekilde ölçmek için bir ön adımdır.

Keywords

Deniz ikonografisi, Trakya, geç antik dönem, tüccar, villa suburbana, Julian Apostate

The Marine Mosaics in Late Antique Thrace

Abstract

It is assumed that marine mosaics were among the most popular mosaic pavements across the Roman Empire, particularly in thermal baths and triclinia. It has therefore been thought unsurprising that marine mosaics widely appear in Early Christian art. Late antique Thrace does not appear to be an exception to this trend, although few examples of such mosaics have been discovered so far. This article addresses all three examples from a villa suburbana in Serdica region as well as other examples from houses in Philippopolis and Augusta Traiana. All dated to the 4th century, these mosaic pavements hold different iconography that suggest that in the marine theme was not among the most popular themes that spread in Late Antique mosaics in the cities of inner Thrace. Instead, their use is attributable to specific historical circumstances such as Julian’s advance into Thrace in 361-362 or the explicit desire and needs of a house owner to present himself as a wealthy merchant to guests. The Philippopolitan mosaic with ‘classical’ iconography may have had a Christian meaning as well. Although this study lacks the necessary support of additional examples, perhaps awaiting discovery at Thrace’s coastal cities, it is a preliminary step toward more accurately gauging the distribution of marine mosaics in Thrace and their role in the development of mosaic art in the region in Late Antiquity.

Keywords

Marine iconography, Thrace, late antiquity, merchant, villa suburbana, Julian Apostate

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