The Mosaic of the Female Musicians from Mariamin, Syria
A spectacular mosaic showing six female musicians and two boys on stage once decorated the floor of an apsidal room at Mariamin, near Hama in Syria. Although other late antique images of musicians exist, this one stands out for its exquisite quality and for its detailed rendering of instruments. It...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Oslo Library
2017-12-01
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| Series: | Acta ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia |
| Online Access: | https://journals.uio.no/acta/article/view/5756 |
| _version_ | 1797693001594568704 |
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| author | Bente Kilierich |
| author_facet | Bente Kilierich |
| author_sort | Bente Kilierich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A spectacular mosaic showing six female musicians and two boys on stage once decorated the floor of an apsidal room at Mariamin, near Hama in Syria. Although other late antique images of musicians exist, this one stands out for its exquisite quality and for its detailed rendering of instruments. It is argued here that the women must be professional itinerant musicians, a popular all-girl band. The small boys dressed as cupids stress the theatrical aspect; they also link the image with its frame: a scroll inhabited by putti and personifications of nature and growth. Set in a frame of renewal, this ‘genre image’ has several levels of meaning. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:36:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-49682b15d9934da69883157ea4de1818 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0065-0900 2611-3686 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T02:36:14Z |
| publishDate | 2017-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Oslo Library |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia |
| spelling | doaj.art-49682b15d9934da69883157ea4de18182023-09-04T14:47:49ZengUniversity of Oslo LibraryActa ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia0065-09002611-36862017-12-01228 N.S.10.5617/acta.5756The Mosaic of the Female Musicians from Mariamin, SyriaBente KilierichA spectacular mosaic showing six female musicians and two boys on stage once decorated the floor of an apsidal room at Mariamin, near Hama in Syria. Although other late antique images of musicians exist, this one stands out for its exquisite quality and for its detailed rendering of instruments. It is argued here that the women must be professional itinerant musicians, a popular all-girl band. The small boys dressed as cupids stress the theatrical aspect; they also link the image with its frame: a scroll inhabited by putti and personifications of nature and growth. Set in a frame of renewal, this ‘genre image’ has several levels of meaning.https://journals.uio.no/acta/article/view/5756 |
| spellingShingle | Bente Kilierich The Mosaic of the Female Musicians from Mariamin, Syria Acta ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia |
| title | The Mosaic of the Female Musicians from Mariamin, Syria |
| title_full | The Mosaic of the Female Musicians from Mariamin, Syria |
| title_fullStr | The Mosaic of the Female Musicians from Mariamin, Syria |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Mosaic of the Female Musicians from Mariamin, Syria |
| title_short | The Mosaic of the Female Musicians from Mariamin, Syria |
| title_sort | mosaic of the female musicians from mariamin syria |
| url | https://journals.uio.no/acta/article/view/5756 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bentekilierich themosaicofthefemalemusiciansfrommariaminsyria AT bentekilierich mosaicofthefemalemusiciansfrommariaminsyria |