| Title: | A curved vitis or a pair of twisted ropes? : The iconography of maritime command on the stele of Liccaeus, Apsorus |
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| Authors: | ID Šmid, Katarina (Author) |
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| Files: |  URL - Source URL, visit https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/ahas/article/view/14810
 PDF - Presentation file, download (821,52 KB)
MD5: E0845FBBDAE613442D99D94BE123FC0C
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| Language: | English |
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| Typology: | 1.01 - Original Scientific Article |
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| Organization: |  ZRC SAZU - The Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
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| Abstract: | The article examines the tombstone of the naval centurion Liccaeus, which was discovered in the village of Osor (Apsorus) on the island of Cres. According to the inscription, it appears that a public site was allocated for the monument, indicating the honorand’s significance to the local community. Liccaeus is depicted wearing a tunic and a sagum, but the most unusual feature is the object he holds in his hand. This object has often been interpreted as a rope tied into a knot, similar to those used for mooring ships. Little is known about the appearance of the command staff, vitis, that was a distinctive symbol of also naval centurions. However, depictions on Ravenna tombstones from the Early Imperial period which feature an object similar to knot suggest that, during this era, the vitis for naval centurions may have been represented differently. Given the absence of any attributes on the tombstone that would directly associate the deceased with his rank, it is possible that Liccaeus is holding a vitis, which, by its appearance, could also refer to his maritime skills. |
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| Keywords: | Apsorus, Liccaeus, naval centurion, vitis, Ravennate fleet, stele, Dalmatia, Julio-Claudian era |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Publication date: | 25.09.2025 |
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| Year of publishing: | 2025 |
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| Number of pages: | str. 5-17 |
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| Numbering: | letn. 30, št. 1 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-25512  |
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| UDC: | 726.825(497.5Osor):003.071(37) |
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| ISSN on article: | 1408-0419 |
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| DOI: | 10.3986/ahas.30.1.01 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 255539971 |
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| Publication date in DiRROS: | 21.01.2026 |
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| Views: | 85 |
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| Downloads: | 54 |
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