Visual Narrative and Ktisissagen: New Mosaics on the Foundation of Two Seleukid Cities

Abstract

The paper analyses two foundation myths of Antioch on the Orontes and Apamea in Syria in context of both: the late roman literature and recently discovered mosaics. Comparative study of John Malalas and Libanius accounts with the mosaics reveals a strong typological and structure affinity of the literary and visual narratives, at the same time stressing a significant difference in details. Such differences may be result of the co-existence of various versions of the foundation legends, which were influenced by local folklore tradition, as well as official state ideology.