Includes bibliographical references (p. 207-226) and indexes.
Contents:
Paintings described in ancient texts -- Paintings found in public temples of the Greek world -- Paintings found in public temples in Roman Italy -- Paintings in provincial Roman temples across the Alps -- The eastern half of the empire and North Africa -- Painted shrines dedicated to the Roman emperor -- Roman shrines housing non-Roman cults -- Dura Europos : a case-study -- Final remarks.
Summary:
Divine Interiors is an investigation into the decoration of Greek and Roman temples with wall paintings. Mighty marble facades, sculptures and paintings played an important role in relation to these monuments. While the official temples, which were connected to the city or state, usually had a simple but solemn appearance, the more popular buildings were true multi-color expressions of religiosity. Scenes from the life of the revered deity, supporters and practitioners of the cult, or of plants and animals could carry visitors of the shrines away to different worlds. It is also striking to find in the vast Greco-Roman world that there are many similarities between often widely separated temples. The wall paintings were characterized by stylistic and taste changes, but they had the same look everywhere. Besides using archeological remains, this book also uses the texts of antiquity, whose descriptions of the monuments provide additional information.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.