During the Roman imperial period, the city of Hierapolis in Phrygia was surrounded by hundreds of tombs in the north, west and south. By the early 3rd century AD, all available space in the few flat areas along the street and terraces in the larger North Necropolis was occupied. Monuments began encroaching upon one other, often obstructing visual and physical access to earlier structures. The burial grounds of Hierapolis thus offer a unique vantage point for observing the competitive dynamics of urban societies in the imperial Greek East and for understanding how private identities were projected into the public sphere. What legal, customary, ritual, and visual instruments were used to assert ownership over a grave, whether for acquisition or mere maintenance? How did familial identity construction, manifested through monumental legacies, help to establish one’s status and dynastic aspirations? The first section of the paper examines the methods used to safeguard tombs from fraudulent alienation. The second section addresses the strategies used to occupy tombs, by asserting legitimate succession or the regular transfer of ownership. Last, the third section confronts the symbolic significance of claiming ownership over ancient tombs. The paper addresses each perspective through a selection of case studies focusing on the North and South-West burial grounds of the city, contributing to a more comprehensive and nuanced portrayal of Hierapolis’ funerary landscape.
Reclaiming the funerary space: The protection and reuse of tombs in the burial grounds of Hierapolis in Phrygia
anna anguissola
2024-01-01
Abstract
During the Roman imperial period, the city of Hierapolis in Phrygia was surrounded by hundreds of tombs in the north, west and south. By the early 3rd century AD, all available space in the few flat areas along the street and terraces in the larger North Necropolis was occupied. Monuments began encroaching upon one other, often obstructing visual and physical access to earlier structures. The burial grounds of Hierapolis thus offer a unique vantage point for observing the competitive dynamics of urban societies in the imperial Greek East and for understanding how private identities were projected into the public sphere. What legal, customary, ritual, and visual instruments were used to assert ownership over a grave, whether for acquisition or mere maintenance? How did familial identity construction, manifested through monumental legacies, help to establish one’s status and dynastic aspirations? The first section of the paper examines the methods used to safeguard tombs from fraudulent alienation. The second section addresses the strategies used to occupy tombs, by asserting legitimate succession or the regular transfer of ownership. Last, the third section confronts the symbolic significance of claiming ownership over ancient tombs. The paper addresses each perspective through a selection of case studies focusing on the North and South-West burial grounds of the city, contributing to a more comprehensive and nuanced portrayal of Hierapolis’ funerary landscape.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
