Porphyry

PORPHYRY – I am preparing a volume about Roman Imperial Porphyry. It is going to be published by Umberto Allemandi & Co of Turin next October. The symbolic power of Egyptian Porphyry  for Imperial Rome was connected to the latin Porphyra (purple) meaning power and regality and will lead to the Porpora of the Popes of the christian Rome. Red Porphyry by romans was called Porphyrites.

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Red Porphyry head from the sarcophagus of Santa Costanza in the Vatican Museum, Rome, private collection.

Egyptian Porphyry head from the sarcophagus of Santa Costanza in the Vatican Museum, London, V&A Museum.

Roman Porphyry head from a large labrum, Vicenza, Civic Museum.

Imperial Porphyry head from the large labrum in the courtyard, Naples, Archaeological Museum.