A unique Roman portrait from the forum of Florentia Iliberritana (Granada)

Abstract

This paper presents the study of a Roman portrait discovered in recent excavations in the Albaicín district –c/ Gumiel, 6– of Granada. The portrait was found in a level dated to the Late Antiquity as part of the fill of a vaulted infrastructure, possibly related to the forum buildings of Florentia Iliberritana, located close by. The iconographic and stylistic analyses of the portrait, as well as the known parallels –sculptures in the round or reliefs– suggest that it was made around the early Hadrian’s reign. It presents a unique iconography with certain features related to Hadrian’s portrait specifically known as the ‘Tarragona type’, created during the Emperor’s stay in this capital (122-123 ad). It represents a member of the elite from that period, whose honorary portrait could have been exhibited in the Florentia Iliberritana’s municipal forum, dismantled in Late Antiquity.

Keywords

• escultura romana
• iconografía
• epigrafía romana
• reinado de adriano
• hispania