The Imperial Eagle under the Phallus Tree. Iconography of the Fresco “The Source of Abundance” in Massa Marittima (second half of the 13th century)

Dilshat Kharman

doi:10.28995/2686-7249-2017-9-65-81

The Imperial Eagle under the Phallus Tree. Iconography of the Fresco “The Source of Abundance” in Massa Marittima (second half of the 13th century)

Dilshat Kharman

https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2017-9-65-81

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Abstract

The article is dedicated to the iconographical analysis of the13^th century wall painting inside the fountain in Massa Maritima (Grosseto). The unique combination of the “world turned upside down”motif with the symbols of the Holy Roman Empire makes this fresco the most interesting piece of secular medieval art and allows us to better understand how functions of public images could alter according to the political context. The author researches the “phallus tree” iconography and gives possible interpretation for the appearance of the Ghibelline coat of arms next to it.

Keywords

светская иконография, гибеллины, гвельфы, XIII в, фаллос, Масса Мариттима, перевернутый мир, secular iconography, Ghibellines, Guelphs, 13^th century, phallus, Massa Maritima, world turned upside down,

About the Author

Dilshat Kharman

SOVA Center for Information and Analysis
Russian Federation

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Supplementary files

For citation: Kharman D. The Imperial Eagle under the Phallus Tree. Iconography of the Fresco “The Source of Abundance” in Massa Marittima (second half of the 13th century). RSUH/RGGU Bulletin: “Literary Teory. Linguistics. Cultural Studies”, Series. 2017;(9):65-81. https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2017-9-65-81

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