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Alexander the Great on Late Roman contorniates: religion, magic or history?

  • Darío N. Sánchez Vendramini EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: December 1, 2022
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Abstract

In this paper, I want to focus on a specific set of numismatic images of Alexander the Great, which has received less attention than comparable ones: the depictions on the Late Roman medallions known as contorniates. First, in two introductory sections, I connect the tradition of Alexander's numismatic imagery with the contorniates and present the general characteristics of these medallions. Next, I offer a detailed analysis of the different depictions of Alexander on contorniates. Thirdly, I briefly summarise the discussion of the functions of the contorniates and, on this basis, question the interpretations of them as pagan symbols and amulets proposed by Alföldi and Mittag. Finally, based on the critique of these interpretations, I argue that the Alexander contorniates reflect an interest in the historical figure of the great conqueror and the quasi-fictional hero of the Alexander Romance. If this Alexander was a symbol, it was of Greco-Roman patriotism and the empire's ability to prevail over its barbarian enemies.

Acknowledgements

I am grateful for the generous help of Raphael Brendel, who read a preliminary version of this paper and helped to improve it considerably with his suggestions and ideas. I also want to thank Cristian Mondello, who very kindly commented on an earlier draft of this paper and made available advance copies of his publications. I am also grateful for the comments of JAH's anonymous referee. Of course, all remaining errors are my own.

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Published Online: 2022-12-01
Published in Print: 2022-11-28

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