Under Septimius Severus, as in all other provinces of the Roman Empire, Syria Palaestina experienced a phase of significant building activity, marked by the completion of major construction or reconstruction projects, such as those at Antipatris and Samaria-Sebaste. Numerous cities were granted the status of colonia or municipium, accompanied by ambitious urbanization programs.
This wave of development, however, often appears uneven, perhaps reflecting the desire to meet diverse imperial ambitions and ideological tendencies rather than a coherent regional plan. Nevertheless, cities were enriched with imposing monumental structures, including temples, basilicas, and theatres, which transformed the urban landscape and articulated the Severan presence in the region.
From the perspective of architectural decoration, Severan stylistic features blended with local traditions, giving rise to highly elaborate forms that might be described as a kind of baroque ante litteram. Among the most distinctive traits are moldings with particular ornamental profiles, the so-called syrische Bogen; pedestals decorated with acanthus, carved from a single block together with the lower shaft of the columns; the Blattkelchkapitelle or lotus-leaf capitals; and the so-called “peopled scrolls”.
The aim of this research is therefore to reconsider materials already known from selected sites through a renewed stylistic analysis in light of the methodological framework proposed in this project.
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