<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The funerary slab of <italic>Agate</italic>, daughter of an Ostrogoth <italic>comes</italic>, dated to 512 AD, shows a hitherto unnoticed <italic>tabula lusoria</italic> or symbolic representation in the blank space below the inscription. The pattern, used for the game of Nine men’s morris, is accurately incised, and not hastily scratched, in a central and visible position. Interesting questions arise: is the pattern a game board? Is it precedent, coeval or posterior to the funerary inscription? How could the presence of the design be explained in such a context? Could the Nine men’s morris pattern have had a symbolic overtone, or is it just connected to a secondary utilization of the slab? These questions will be evaluated mainly through the reconstruction of the conservation history of the slab.</p>
</abstract>

The funerary slab of Agate, daughter of an Ostrogoth comes, dated to 512 AD, shows a hitherto unnoticed tabula lusoria or symbolic representation in the blank space below the inscription. The pattern, used for the game of Nine men’s morris, is accurately incised, and not hastily scratched, in a central and visible position. Interesting questions arise: is the pattern a game board? Is it precedent, coeval or posterior to the funerary inscription? How could the presence of the design be explained in such a context? Could the Nine men’s morris pattern have had a symbolic overtone, or is it just connected to a secondary utilization of the slab? These questions will be evaluated mainly through the reconstruction of the conservation history of the slab.

Une « Triple Enceinte » Et L’inscription Funéraire De <italic>Agate Filia Comites Gattilanis</italic> À Milan

Board Game Studies Journal

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Une « Triple Enceinte » Et L’inscription Funéraire De  À Milan

The funerary slab of Agate, daughter of an Ostrogoth comes, dated to 512 AD, shows a hitherto unnoticed tabula lusoria or symbolic representation in the blank...

Une « Triple Enceinte » Et L’inscription Funéraire De Agate Filia Comites Gattilanis À Milan

Published Online: Apr 26, 2022

Page range: 397 - 412

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bgs-2022-0013

Keywords
symbolism, Nine men’s morris, funerary stele, Milan, reuse

© 2022 Francesco Muscolino, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Une « Triple Enceinte » Et L’inscription Funéraire De Agate Filia Comites Gattilanis À Milan

Published Online: Apr 26, 2022

Page range: 397 - 412

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bgs-2022-0013

Keywordssymbolism, Nine men’s morris, funerary stele, Milan, reuse

© 2022 Francesco Muscolino, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
symbolism, Nine men’s morris, funerary stele, Milan, reuse