Symbolik

The presented paper focuses on comprehending the symbolism, variety and scale of the eagle’s image implementation in art and broadly named culture of ancient Rome of the Augustan age (ca. 27 B.C.-14 A.D.). Both literary, numismatical, as well as gemmoglyptical evidence are examined, in our attempt to better understand the ideological notion of the fawn bird’s image in the ancient times.

Searching for reasons for Thomas Mann's continuing popularity - with a broader reading public as well as with literary critics - the essay takes a closer look at his novel "Der Zauberberg". It especially tries to analyze Mann's techniques of symbolization and mythopoetic writing as means of providing the reader with an interpretation of his age which is conveyed by specifically literary devices.

The paper deals with the ambiguous origination of the symbol of Griffin in the Duchy
of Pomerania, i.e. the way how the motif was implemented in the Pomeranian culture, as well as when it happened and in which form. The paper includes an analysis of the oldest iconographic relics from Pomerania with an image of Griffin and it offers some explanations why that symbol appeared in the Duchy. The paper also provides some information on the origin of the symbol as far back as the ancient and medieval times.

Social accord, unity, fraternity — those were the slogans resounding widely regardless of the époque. Whether it being the many political dilemmas of our modern era or the ancient times, a capable government rule has ever since followed the same principle: perceptive use of information and propaganda of values. Although achieved through different media, the result of careful employment of certain themes in visual imagery in art, equated in co-shaping the desires of society
governed, and furthermore — remained a strong voice in politics. The following article shall serve as an illustration of how the motif of peace and prosperity from divine providence has been embedded in the propaganda reality of Imperium Romanum. We introduce the cultural background of the so called "Augustan Age", reflect upon the mechanisms of the therein formed imperial propaganda, as well as
familiarize the reader with the general establishment of power and authority from the period. All of the above is carried on basis of analysis of a peculiar motif of mystical conception of Atia, the mother of the first Roman emperor, and the implications the story had possibly brought into different fields of art and literature from that time.

Der Beitrag beschäftigt sich mit christlich konnotierten Grabbeigaben aus Reihengräberfeldern. Es werden hierzu zwei Problemkreise thematisiert: Zum einen der Charakter von frühmittelalterlichen Gräbern als Ergebnis gesellschaftlicher Praktiken und Normen sowie individueller Einflüsse, zum anderen die grundsätzliche Identifizierung und Bewertung christlicher Motive oder glaubenspraktischer Funktionen im Beigabenbestand durch kontextuale Analysen. Der abschließende Ausblick skizziert Ansätze für eine Deutung der christlichen Grabbeigaben als soziale Krisenbewältigungsstrategie.