Medallion of Stratoniceia under Caracalla c. 198s - 208s

Editor: This is the Medallion of Stratoniceia under Caracalla, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's fascinating to see the wear and tear on this ancient artifact. What compositional elements stand out to you? Curator: The work invites an immediate formal analysis. Note the circular composition, divided into two distinct sides, each a study in relief. The obverse presents a profile, a formal language asserting the subject's status. The reverse, with its inscription, anchors the work's meaning through textual semiotics. Editor: So, it’s about more than just the image, but also the text? Curator: Precisely. The text complements the visual elements, grounding the medallion in a specific historical and cultural context. Together, they create a cohesive symbolic system. The arrangement shows order and unity, but is disrupted by wear and tear. Editor: I appreciate that perspective; it helps me understand how form and function intertwine. Curator: Indeed, observing this relationship is the first step toward a deeper understanding of art.