Femina Antica Balcanica

Abstract

Testimonies of the visual and material culture dealing with the feminine imag- ery belong to the period between the 4th and the beginning of the 7th century, usu- ally known as Late Antiquity, although terminology can refer to the late Roman, early Byzantine or early Christian periods. The term Late Antiquity is chosen be- cause of the vast ancient heritage and the existence of a long legacy of Roman cults which, together with Christianity, co-existed on the territory of the Roman frontier – the Danube Limes and across the Central Balkans. The late antique Empire was characterised by a society which, in a spiritual, religious and cultural sense, was shaped by the values of ancient time that remained, yet within an atmosphere of change, which could have been felt not only because of the political changes that considered the state’s orientation towards the East, but also with the strong impact of Christianity, which affected many spheres of ancient people’s lives. Thus, the material presented in the study can be placed in the frame of the history of the late antique material and visual culture, from the 4th to the beginning of the 7th century, which is based upon the late Roman art that was adopted by the Christian religion. The material presented and explored in the study originates from museum collec- tions and archaeological sites from the territory of present day Serbia and is com- pared with various analogies from major or provincial artistic centres across the Roman Empire. The territory of present day Serbia during the Roman domination, according to Diocletian’s administrative reforms, comprised the provinces of Vale- ria, Pannonia Secunda, Dacia Ripensis, Dacia Mediterranea, Moesia Prima, Dar- dania and Dalmatia, while during Constantine the Great’s reign this territory be- longed to the newly established prefecture of Illyricum.