Spolia in Constantine’s architecture. Decline, innovation or continuity of tradition?

Anna Głowa

Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II , Poland


Abstract

“Spolia” is a term applied to earlier architectural elements re-used in new buil­dings. This practice was born in 3rd century and became very common in the times of Constantine. For a long time spolia were perceived as a sign of decline in late antique art. Nowadays interpretations of spolia alternate between the “pragmatic”, the “aesthetic” and the “ideological”. The aim of this article is to investigate these theories in context of changing tradition in ancient art, and try to see spolia as the reflection of the tension between “Past” and “Present” in the times of transforma­tion of the Roman world.

Keywords:

spolia, Constantine’s architecture, the aesthetics of varietas

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Published
2015-12-15


Głowa, A. (2015). Spolia w budowlach konstantyńskich. Dekadencja, innowacja czy kontynuacja tradycji?. Vox Patrum, 64, 131–149. https://doi.org/10.31743/vp.3709

Anna Głowa 
Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II



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