The status of Serena and the Stilicho diptych. (31st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cameron, Alan
• Is Part Of: Journal of Roman archaeology. Volume 29(2016)
• Page Start: 509
• Page End: 516
• Publication Date: 2016-10-31
• Subjects: Europe -- Antiquities, Roman -- Periodicals; Excavations (Archaeology) -- Europe -- Periodicals; Rome -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; Fouilles (Archéologie) -- Europe -- Périodiques; Europe -- Antiquités romaines -- Périodiques; Rome -- Antiquités -- Périodiques; Archeologie; Romeinse oudheid; Antiquities; Classical antiquities; Excavations (Archaeology); Europe; Rome (Empire); Periodicals; Electronic journals; 930
• DOI: 10.1017/S1047759400072299
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1047-7594

Abstract

Abstract : One of the best known (and best preserved) of late-antique ivories is what is generally known as the Stilicho diptych, kept in the tesoro of the cathedral at Monza. It represents a military man with a spear and shield on one panel, and, on the other, a high-ranking woman holding a flower above the head of a small boy, not more than 10 years old; he stands between them wearing a chlamys and holding the codicils of office in his left hand (fig. 1). Ever since the basic article by C. Jullian more than 130 years ago, it has been generally accepted that the only candidates who fit this description are the western magister utriusque militiae Stilicho (d. 408), his wife Serena, the niece and (according to Claudian) adoptive daughter of Theodosius I, and their son Eucherius, appointed to the office of tribunus et notarius in (probably) 395/6.