Marriage or a Multiplicity of Meanings? The Dextrarum Iunctio on Roman and Early Christian Funerary Monuments

The intent of this study is to assess the validity of the monolithic association between the dextrarum iunctio motif and marriage. Drawing together a catalog of visual, textual and epigraphic evidence, this study will investigate the potential polysemous nature of the motif by utilizing a hybrid methodological framework that incorporates stylistic and compositional analysis with epigraphic evidence. This discussion will be informed by Place Studies, which focuses on the physical context of the motif and the monument. I suggest that the change in the type and the physical location of the monument provided the impetus for changes in the function of the dextrarum iunctio, making it an inherently multivalent motif. The dextrarum iunctio transformed from a motif that served a pragmatic function on Roman funerary reliefs, providing a means to depict relationships and integration into identity groups, to an allegorical motif that is combined with other ornamentation and complementary images on funerary altars and sarcophagi.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Greek and Roman Studies

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Graduate Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Baillargeon, Danielle

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hughes, Lisa

• Art History
• Ancient

Statement dc:rights

• University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.

Language dc:language.iso

eng

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/26834

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ucalgary.scholaris.ca:11023/869