A Late Antique Imperial Portrait Recently Discovered at Istanbul

Author(s): Nezih Firatli

Source: American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 55, No. 1 (Jan., 1951), pp. 67-71
Published by: Archaeological Institute of America
Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/501182
Accessed: 04-03-2016 02:50 UTC

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/
info/about/policies/terms.jsp

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content
in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship.
For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org.

Archaeological Institute of America is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to American Journal
of Archaeology.

http://www.jstor.org

This content downloaded from 131.204.73.184 on Fri, 04 Mar 2016 02:50:19 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
 NOTES AND DISCUSSIONS

THE ELEUSIS VASE at least twice on the tablet shown in Evans, Palace

of Minos, IV, 2, p. 800, fig. 775, and once on another

ToM B. JONES, University of Minnesota

tablet (ibid. p. 724, fig. 707c). It is also interesting

to see that the first word of line 2, fig. 775, is probably

N AJA 53 (1949) 356-357 there appeared a note

the same as the second word (characters 4-8) in the

by Wm. T. M. Forbes entitled, "The Inscription

fifth Theban vase text (Car. I) shown above; more-

on the Eleusis Vase." I should like to enumerate a

over, the first word of line 6, fig. 775, appears to be a

few of the objections to his proposed reading:

variant of this same word. Finally, the first word in

1. It is a large assumption that Greek was the

line 5, fig. 775, also occurs on a vase from Tiryns

"normal language" of Eleusis in the thirteenth

(Palace of Minos, IV, 2, p. 742, fig. 725).

century B.C.

All these texts, therefore, represent the same

2. It is unlikely that, in a syuabary of the type

language. If it were possible to read one of them, we

envisioned by Forbes, the aspirated e in Helike would

could read them all.

be confused with the vowel e. The Cypriotes for

example, had separate characters for a and ha, and

January 1950

apparently for e and he also.

3. The first word in the Eleusis inscription is, as

A LATE ANTIQUE IMPERIAL PORTRAIT

Forbes realized, a good Minoan word, amply attested

RECENTLY DISCOVERED AT

and occurring in contexts where it could not mean

ISTANBUL1

"May she prosper."

4. The last word is not likely to be tyche. In the

NEZIH FIRATLI, Istanbul Museum

first place, there would be little point in abbreviating

SINCE 1944 important remains have been brought

a two-syllable word. Secondly, a word which occurs

to light in the course of excavating for the founda-

at least twice on Theban vases may well have been

tions of the various new buildings of Istanbul Univer-

the one intended on the Eleusis vase, and this word

sity at Beyazit. These are mainly church-like con-

would have to be read (by Forbes) tu to. Comparisons

structions of the sixth century and remains of the

of the Eleusis text with certain Theban vase inscrip-

necropolis of ancient Byzantium. The finds of the

tions illustrated below' seem to me to display a com-

necropolis consist of a series of tomb-stelae, sarcophagi

mon sequence in which tu to occurs alone as a word

or as an element in a word.2 and pottery from the fourth century B.c. to the end

of the third century A.D.2

The subject of the present article came to light in

these circumstances in June 1949 (figs. 1-5). The spot

where it was found falls outside the Forum Tauri,

but very near its west wall. It is 100 m. more or less

(CAs[ a i scp one mh HE ts

north of the Column of Theodosius. The head was

LNS-I Ff t Lu#*fi0aIR ? Tf C teuss

system merely for convenience, not from any belief that it is

the correct transliteration.

1 I wish to thank Miss Agkidil Akarca, assistant at the

IAs $a a petat utocr

University of Istanbul, who has taken the trouble to trans-

late the present article from Turkish into English, and Pro-

As a postscript, one might note that tu to3 occurs

fessor Marion Lawrence of Columbia University who has

kindly consented to revise it.

1 The texts shown are based on G. Pugliese Carratelli, "Le

2 For the excavations before 1946 see A. M. Schneider, AA

iscrizioni preelleniche di Haghia Triada in Creta e della

59/60 (1944/45) 75. A short notice appeared in AJA 51

Grecia peninsulare," MonAnt 40, 4 (1945), figs. 250-252.

(1947) 197 on the work in 1946. For the finds of 1946-1948

They may also be found in Evans, Palace of Minos, IV, 2 p.

several notices appeared in the Turkish press. A short article

740, fig. 724a and supplementary plate LxIx.

on the tomb-stelae and sarcophagi is published by Bay Aziz

2 Some may object that the tenth character in the fifth

Ogan, the director of the Istanbul Museum, in Bulletin Of-

Theban inscription (Car. I) shown is not to. While its physical

flciel du Touring et Automobile Club de Turquie, No. 79 (1948)

appearance is not that of the conventional to, its presence in

11-16. The Byzantine architectural finds are published in

the sequence inclines me to believe that to was intended.

CahArch 4 (1950) as "Trois tEglises Trouves ' Istanbul,' by

3 I continue to transliterate this word according to Forbes'

Nezih Firath.

67

This content downloaded from 131.204.73.184 on Fri, 04 Mar 2016 02:50:19 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
 FIG. 1 FIG. 2

A LATE IMPERIAL PORTRAIT DISCOVERED AT ISTANBUL

This content downloaded from 131.204.73.184 on Fri, 04 Mar 2016 02:50:19 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
FIG. 3 FIG. 4 FIG. 5

A LATE IMPERIAL PORTRAIT DISCOVERED AT ISTANBUL

This content downloaded from 131.204.73.184 on Fri, 04 Mar 2016 02:50:19 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
 70 AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY

found above sarcophagi and pottery of the third to a choice between the Emperors Valentinian II

century A.D., which were placed directly on the virgin (383-392), Arcadius (395-408), and Theodosius II

soil. This area was dug thoroughly, but no statue, (408-450), all of whom ascended the throne in their

base, or inscription connected with the head was youth.

found. Although some unimportant walls were re- Two other youthful emperors of the period were

vealed, there seems to be no reason to connect these

Honorius (395-423) and Theodosius I. But although

with it. At present we are unable to explain why

coin portraits show a likeness to Honorius4 we cannot

the head should have been found in this particular consider him since he ruled in the West. The proximity

place, but the probability is that it belonged to the of the excavation site to the Column of Theodosius

statues in the Forum Tauri.

I, which held a statue of that Emperor, and to the

The head is of Pentelic marble. It is 0.395 m. high

Forum, has to be considered. The Column, which

and is well preserved (inv. No. 5028). Only a very

was destroyed by earthquake in the year 480, was

small piece on the tip of the nose and one or two

erected about 392.5 Theodosius I was born in the

pearls of the crown are missing. The appearance of

year 347, so that he must have been more than forty

the marble beneath the neck shows that the head

years old when the Column was erected, making the

was made to be placed on a statue. It seems to belong

identification of our head with that of this statue

to a youth about twenty years old. He wears a crown

extremely unlikely. Moreover, this statue is believed

composed of two rows of pearls attached to the edges

to have been bronze or silver.

of a broad band. The crown is further adorned above

The portrait head of Valentinian II in Istanbul'

the forehead with a rectangular precious stone sur-

resembles our head in the shape of the crown and the

rounded by eight pearls. The pearls in front are well

protruding chin, but the face is fleshy and the ex-

formed, while those at. the back are treated sum-

pression soft and serene; whereas, on our head, the

marily. The pearls on the upper row at the back are

face is thin, the expression hard, and the eyes large

separated by small grooves, whereas the lower row

and dull. The hair of this portrait also differs from

forms an unbroken line. The headdress is that of

our head in that it is not smoothly combed but falls

emperors of the end of the fourth century A.D. The

on the forehead in curls. The portrait of Valentinian

hair on the top of the head is but roughly shown,

on his coins7 is rather fat, and the profile of the nose,

while that below the crown is neatly combed, covering

contrary to ours, is concave. The representation of

the upper part of the forehead and falling on the

him on the missorium of Theodosius I8 is too badly

temples and neck. The forehead is flat; the brows are

damaged to allow of a comparison. The bronze bust

not indicated. The eyes are very large and open, and
of him at Budapest9 has an altogether different

the right eye is bigger than the left. They seem to be

expression largely due to the difference in the material

looking towards a high and distant object. The upper

and size. The eyebrows of this bust are harsh and

lids are represented by a line. The pupils are carved,

curve upwards, and the hair at the back of the head

but the iris is not shown. The nose is shapely, with

is different too. Thus we find in none of these portraits

a slight curve, and there is a small depression where

a satisfactory comparison with our head.

it joins the forehead. The nostrils are well defined.

The portrait of Theodosius II in the Louvre10 is

The cheek bones are not prominent, the cheeks

dated 440. It shows a lean, bearded man, with large,

swelling slightly toward the nose. The skin seems

open eyes, about forty years old, and so might por-

smooth and fresh. The mouth is small and somewhat

tray our young emperor toward the end of his life.

protruding, the lips being well defined. The chin is

On the other hand, the portraits of Theodosius on his

small and round. On the neck are two thin horizontal

coins" do not support such a supposition.

lines, and the depression at the junction of the neck

Among the members of the imperial House repre-

and chest is represented. The ears are carefully carved.

sented on the northwest and southwest sides of the

At the time of the discovery of the head we con-

I R. Delbrueck, Spatantike Kaiserportriits (Berlin 1933) p.

sidered the portrait to be that of Valentinian II,

96, pl. 19.

being influenced by the portrait of Valentinian already

5 Johamnes Kollwitz, Ostri6mische Plastik der Theodosian-

in the Istanbul Museum. But although there are

ischen Zeit (Berlin 1941) 3 sq.

similarities at first glance, there are sufficient dif-

6 Kaiserportriits, pl. 92; Kollwitz, op. cit. pl. 34; Mendel,

ferences, on more careful examination, to lead to

op. cit. II, no. 96.

doubt. Since the head is the portrait of an emperor

7 Kaiserportriits, p. 91, pl. 14.

of the end of the fourth century and shows a young

s R. Delbrueck, Die Consulardiptychen (Berlin 1929) p.

man of about twenty, our search really narrows down

235, no. 6~; Kaiserportrdts, p. 200, pl. 94-97.

9 Kaiserportriits, p. 198, pl. 93.

3 G. Mendel, Catalogue des Sculptures Grecques, Romaines

1o Ibid. p. 17 sq., pl. 114-115.

et Byzantines (1912-14) II, pp. 199-202, no. 506.

n Ibid. p. 94, pl. 17.

This content downloaded from 131.204.73.184 on Fri, 04 Mar 2016 02:50:19 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions
 71

Hippodrome Obelisk,12 (Theodosius I, Valentinian differs from ours in the arrangement of the front

II, Arcadius and Honorius) our portrait is most similar hair, the shape of the crown, and the indication of the

to the thin-faced, thirteen-year-old Arcadius. We iris in the eyes; but the uplifted eyes and the shape

of the mouth are identical. The coin portraits'4 too,

must point out that the description by Philostorgius

of Arcadius, show a definite likeness. Thus the strong-

(Hist. Eccl. 11.3) of the eyes of Arcadius as "sleepy

and drooping" is contradictory to the large, open est evidence points to the identification of our portrait

eyes of our head. But in the representation of Ar- as that of Arcadius and places the date somewhere

cadius on the missorium of Theodosius I, the shape between the years 395 and 400.

of the eyes shows a great resemblance, as do the

January 1950

slightly parted lips and the arrangement of the hair

on the forehead. The Berlin head,13 which is dated 400,

13 Kaiserportrdits, pp. 204-206, pl. 103-104; H. P. L'Orange,

12 Kollwitz op. cit. 115-119; Gerda Bruns, Der Obelisk und Studien zur Geschichte des Spiitantiken Portriits (Oslo 1933),

seinen Basis auf dem Hippodrom zu Konstantinopel (Istanbul no. 96, pl. 185-186.

1935) p. 36 sq., fig. 37-39 and 61-62. 14 Kaiserportriits, p. 94, pl. 16.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

C. BRADFORD WELLES AND ANN PERKINS

GENERAL to the second: importance of migrations as bringers

of "Asiatic" civilization.

Fasti Archaeologici, Annual Bulletin of Classical

M. V. Seton Williams, "Neolithic Burnished Wares

ArchaeolQgy. Volume 2, Referring to the Year 1947

in the Near East," Iraq 10 (1948) 34-50. Definition

(Florence, Sansoni, 1949. The International Associa-

of Neolithic. Sites from Mersin to Hassuna, from

tion for Classical Archaeology). Pp. xvi+497.

Alisar to Byblos.

Recognition is due the useful project of the Centre

Rachel Maxwell-Hyslop, "Western Asiatic Shaft-

International de Documentation Classique, 14, rue

Hole Axes," Iraq 11 (1949) 90-129. Anatolia and

Paul-Deroulkde, Bois-Colombes (Seine), France, for

Palestine to Iran, Jemdet Nasr to III Ur. "An Axe

the Bulletin des Sommaires et Comptes-Rendus Bibli-

from Luristan in the Otago Museum, Dunedin, New

ographiques des Periodiques Frangais et Etrangers,

Zealand," ib. 12 (1950) 52. Published and illustrated.

with annual index, of which the volume for 1948 has

E. A. Speiser, "On Some Articles of Armor and

appeared.

Die Welt als Geschichte announces that it resumes their Names," JAOS 70 (1950) 47-49. Scale armor for

horses and men.

publication under the editorship of Hans Erich Stier

W. M. Hugill, "Olympics Old and New," Phoenix

and Fritz Ernst.

3 (1949) 31-39.
(Ganymed, Heidelberger Beitrdge zur antiken Kunst-

R. Demangel, "Retour offensif des theories vitru-

geschichte, ed. R. Herbig (Heidelberg 1949). Pp. 84,

viennes sur la frise dorique," BCH 73 (1949) 476-4812.

pls. 98.

J. Delorme, "Etude architecturale sur Vitruve, v,

Armenian Affairs, A Journal on Armenian Studies

11, 2," ib. 398-420. New interpretation of the north

1, No. 1 (Winter 1949-1950) deals i.a. with Armenian

aisle of the palaestra.

history and topography.

L. S. B. Leakey, "Terminology in Prehistory," Margarete Bieber, "Pliny and Graeco-roman Art,"

SAAB 5, No. 17 (March 1950) 20-22. Against such Collection Latomus 2 (1949) 39-42. Romans liked the

terms as "Clacto-Abbevillean." classicizing style of . Damophon, from mid-second

P. Van der Meer, The Ancient Chronology of Western century B.C.

Asia and Egypt, (Documenta et Monumenta Orientis A. W. Lawrence, "Cessavit Ars: Turning-Points in

Antiqui , 1947). Pp. 71, 4 chronological tables. Hellenistic Sculpture," Mdl d'Arch. et d'Hist. Charles

Theodore Burton Brown, "1600-1400 B.c. in the Picard 2 (1949) 581-585. Pliny's source (34.19) did

Eastern Mediterranean," AAA 28 (1948) 8-26. not like Hellenistic art.

Extension of his Studies in Third Millennium History H. G. Beyen, "Schildersroem en Schildersleed in

This content downloaded from 131.204.73.184 on Fri, 04 Mar 2016 02:50:19 UTC
All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions