Nurturing the Elite: Representations of Drinking, Eating, and Religious Vessels in Palmyrene Funerary Iconography

Nurturing the Elite Representations of Drinking, Eating, and Religious Vessels in Palmyrene Funerary Iconography Olympia Bobou, Ilaria Bucci, Rubina Raja Pages: xxvii 513 p. Size:216 x 280 mm Illustrations:205 b/w, 27 col., 26 tables b/w. Language(s):English Publication Year:2026Summary Vessels as attributes were prominently depicted across all types of funerary monuments in Palmyra but have rarely been the subject of focused study. Yet with over 400 documented examples, vessels in fact hold a central place in shaping the iconography of Palmyrene portraits and offer unique insights into the aspirations, identities, and status of the individuals commemorated. This monograph investigates the role of vessels in Palmyrene funerary sculpture, exploring often neglected aspects of local portraiture. Through this approach, it seeks to place the study of vessels at the heart of ongoing critical discourse into Palmyrene society, its values, and its rituals, as well as exploring the city’s broader connections within cultural and economic networks in the Roman Near East and further afield. This research has been made possible thanks to the extensive data collection of the Palmyra Portrait Project (Aarhus University), which, since 2012, has compiled a comprehensive catalogue of Palmyrene sculptural production from the first three centuries AD.TABLE OF CONTENTS List of IllustrationsPlatesAcknowledgementsAbbreviationsIntroduction Research Framework and Methodology Structure of the BookChapter 1. Vessels in the Portrait Habit of Palmyra The Local Portrait Habit Results of the Palmyra Portrait Project in the Broader Scholarly Context Vessels in the Funerary Sphere: An Introduction to the MonumentsChapter 2. Local Trends in Funerary Sculpture General Remarks on Vessels in Palmyrene Sculpture Vessels Associated with Banqueting Vessels Associated with Religious Activities Food Vessels and Utensils Associated with Female Figures Local Trends in Vessel Representations Appendix — Vessel TypologyChapter 3. Eating, Drinking, Offering in Palmyra: Vessels as Reflections of Wider Cultural Networks The Local Archaeological Context: Evidence for the Production and Import of Vessels in Palmyra Depictions of Vessels in a Regional and Supraregional Perspective Symbolism and Significance: Vessels as Reflections of Broader NetworksConclusions. Powerful Attributes: The Role of Vessels in Palmyrene Funerary SculptureCatalogueAppendix 1: Wall Paintings Appendix 2: Religious SculptureCatalogue of VesselsWorks CitedIndex Subject(s) Objects and materials (antiquities & material culture) Ancient Western Asia (Near East) (up to 7th cen.) Roman Archaeology Classical sculpture BIO Olympia Bobou is an Assistant Professor at the Centre for Urban Network Evolutions (UrbNet), Aarhus University. Ilaria Bucci is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Centre for Urban Network Evolutions (UrbNet), Aarhus University. Rubina Raja is Professor of Classical Archaeology and Art and Centre Director of the Danish National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence, Centre for Urban Network Evolutions (UrbNet) at Aarhus University.