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  1. Seuso Research Project
  2. Statue of the tetrarchs of Venice
The statue of the four tetrarchs (Photo: Ágnes Bencze)
The statue of the four tetrarchs (Photo: Ágnes Bencze)
The statue of the four tetrarchs (Photo: Ágnes Bencze)
The statue of the four tetrarchs (Photo: Ágnes Bencze)
The statue of the four tetrarchs, detail (Photo: Ágnes Bencze)
The statue of the four tetrarchs, detail (Photo: Ágnes Bencze)
Roman Empire
After 293

Statue of the tetrarchs of Venice

Although it now decorates a corner of Saint Mark’s Cathedral, the group of statues depicting the four tetrarcha (tetrarchs), i.e. co-rulers (tetra means four and the word arché means reign), may have originally stood on a stand fixed to a column at the race course of the imperial palace of Constantinople. It is made from Egyptian red porphyry, whose colour purple is one of the symbols of rule. The features of the four emperors clearly indicate that the style of portrait statues became rather abstract and geometric in the era of tetrarchia (tetrarchy). Since individual features are absent, it is impossible to be certain which statue depicts which emperor of the group representing Diocletian and his co-rulers. The similarity, which is also manifested in the clothing of the tetrarchs, conveyed a message to the viewer: it expressed the equality of the four co-emperors, who are depicted putting their arms round each other, indicating that they ruled in agreement over the unified Roman Empire.

  • Reign of Emperor Augustus

    Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace)
    Statue of Augustus from Prima Porta
  • “Corinthian bronze”jug and bowl with handle, Egyed

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    Trajan’s Column
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    Pantheon
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    Equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius
    Bronze portrait of Marcus Aurelius, Lugio
  • The Severan dynasty: the golden age of Pannonia

    Wall paintings from Brigetio
    Hercules mosaic, Aquincum
    Cult relief of Mithras, Sárkeszi
  • Ivory statue of Autumn (Autumnus), Savaria

  • The age of the soldier emperors

    Statue of Nemesis from the governor’s palace, Aquincum
  • Silver augur staff, Brigetio

  • Reign of Diocletian: the age of the First Tetrarchy

    Statue of the tetrarchs of Venice
    The Gold Coffin by Ferenc Móra
  • Reign of Emperor Constantine I (the Great)

    Mosaics of the Villa del Casale, Piazza Armerina
    The triumphal arch of Constantine
    The Colossus of Constantine I
    Colossal bronze statue of Constantine I
  • Foundation of Constantinople

  • Reign of Emperor Constantius II.

    Heidentor, Carnuntum
    The Kaiseraugst treasure
  • Helmet of March 15 Square, Budapest Castellum contra Teutanum

  • Imperial fibula with onyx, Szilágysomlyó

  • Reign of Emperor Julian

  • Reign of Emperor Valentinian I

  • Battle of Hadrianopolis

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    The Kőszárhegy quadripus
  • I. (The Great) Theodosius and his co-emperors

    Obelisk of Theodosius
    Gilded bronze bust of Valentinian II, Sopianae (?)
  • Fragment of glass vessel with gold foil decoration, Intercisa

  • Painted Early Christian burial chambers, Sopianae

  • Ivory diptychs

  • Sack of Rome

  • Giving up the territory of Pannonia

    Late Roman luxury villa, Nagyharsány
    The Beremend bronze plaque
  • Dethronement of Romulus Augustulus

  • Mosaics of Ravenna

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