Edited Books by Radu Petcu
Archaeology and History (3 rd century bc-8 th century ad) RomA VOLUME 3
Antiquity and Late Antiquity by Radu Petcu
Ex Ponto Nr. 86, (Anul XXIV), 2026, pages 176-188
The present paper examines the painted hypogeum discovered in 1988 in the south-western sector of... more The present paper examines the painted hypogeum discovered in 1988 in the south-western sector of the Roman necropolis of Tomis (Constanța). This monument stands among the most significant funerary structures of Late Roman times in the province of Scythia. The tomb, composed of a dromos and a rectangular burial chamber constructed of stone and mortar, preserves a complex mural program despite extensive post-antique looting. Its pictorial decoration features fictive architectural frameworks, banquet scenes with reclining figures and servitors, and representations of orantes, exemplifying the interplay between traditional Greco-Roman symposium imagery and emerging Christian iconography. Vegetal motifs and symbolic objects further articulate a ritualized landscape reflecting local adaptations of wider Mediterranean funerary traditions. Although the original grave inventory is severely reduced, ceramic fragments, amphorae, marble architectural elements, and isolated coins confirm a chronological placement in the 4th–5th centuries AD. A modern silver-plated Christofle saltcellar found in the dromos illustrates the complex depositional history resulting from repeated intrusions. The integrated analysis of architecture, iconography, and material culture situates the Tomis hypogeum within the broader context of late antique funerary practice and religious transformation. As an outstanding example in Dobruja and the western Pontic region, the tomb contributes substantially to the understanding of social identity, cultural syncretism, and the transition from pagan to early Christian visual language in Late Roman urban communities.
Dissertationes Archaeologicae 3.13 (2025), p. 633–644.
This paper presents and analyses a bronze statuette of the Thracian Rider (‘Ήρως) discovered in 2... more This paper presents and analyses a bronze statuette of the Thracian Rider (‘Ήρως) discovered in 2019 at Palazu Mare, near ancient Tomis (Moesia Inferior). The artifact, dated to the 3rd century AD, was found in a Roman vicus and provides valuable insights into the persistence of Thracian religious traditions within the Roman provincial environment. Compositional XRF analysis identified its material as tin bronze, an alloy typical of small ritual objects. Stylistically, the statuette exemplifies the syncretic fusion between local Thracian beliefs and Greco–Roman artistic conventions. Comparative evidence from the Balkans situates the find within a broader iconographic corpus associated with the cult of the Thracian Horseman—a chthonic, protective, and mediatory deity symbolizing fertility, renewal, and the afterlife. The study underscores the statuette’s significance as both a votive artifact and a marker of cultural continuity, illustrating the adaptation of indigenous hero worship within the Roman Empire’s socio-religious framework.
D. Moreau, R. Petcu, S. Kirov (eds.), À Danubio ad Gothiam. La christianisation du Nord-Ouest de la mer Noire dans l’Antiquité tardive – The Christianization of the North-Western Black Sea during Late Antiquity, Brepols, 2025, p. 227-238.
This paper presents six unpublished oil lamps discovered at Tomis. Five of them were found during... more This paper presents six unpublished oil lamps discovered at Tomis. Five of them were found during archaeological research conducted in the 1950s and 1960s in the so-called ‘Roman edifice with mosaic’ sector. At the same time, the sixth comes from an excavation carried out at the end of the 1990s within the perimeter of the ancient city. These objects fall typologically into the category of oil lamps with cross-shaped handles and are dated by archaeological contexts, as well as by related analogies, to the sixth and seventh centuries AD. Their production area was identified in the north and north-east of the Balkan Peninsula, from which they spread to the adjacent provinces and to other regions of the empire, reaching as far as North Africa.
D. Moreau, R. Petcu, S. Kirov (eds.), À Danubio ad Gothiam. La christianisation du Nord-Ouest de la mer Noire dans l’Antiquité tardive – The Christianization of the North-Western Black Sea during Late Antiquity, Brepols, 2025, p. 239-258.
This study focuses on a tile that presents, in the form of a naive sketch, the scene from the Old... more This study focuses on a tile that presents, in the form of a naive sketch, the scene from the Old Testament in which the Prophet Daniel is in the lions’ den (Daniel 6). The object was discovered at Capidava, an important stronghold of the ancient province of Scythia, and is dated to the second half of the sixth century AD. Among the most emblematic images in early Christian art, and even in Christian art over a longer period, Daniel is generally represented as an orant. Indeed, we can say that the stereotypical representation of the prophet is one of the pivots of Christian iconography, like the Good Shepherd. Associated with the lions’ den, this biblical figure constitutes one of the most characteristic iconographic examples of the symbolic representation of the prayer for salvation, and the copy discovered in Capidava is a singular example.
Studii Clasice, 2024
In 2001, a small scarab made of dark greenish-blue ‘Egyptian’ paste was discovered during the e... more In 2001, a small scarab made of dark greenish-blue ‘Egyptian’ paste was discovered during the excavation of the ‘Episcopal Basilica’ foundations in Istros (Constanța, Romania). Its elementary shape and the inscription engraved on its base before firing – Jmn-Rʿ, one of the many trigrammata of Amun, near the solar symbol of Re – show that this scarab belongs to a series of scarabs found at Naukratis but also on the Black Sea coast at Berezan-Olbia, Panticapaion, Orgame and Mesambria. Many of these finds are later than the ‘scarab factory’ excavated by W.M.F. Petrie in the sanctuary of Naukratis and dated by him up to the early 6th century BC. This calls for a critical re-examination of the excavations in which these amulets were found, their circulation paths, and their possible meanings. The ‘Egyptian’ scarabs could be worn by several generations. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that these small scarabs were made in several workshops in Egypt and on the Eastern shores of the Inner Sea, by craftsmen who mechanically reproduced a model dating back to the 18th dynasty but who probably had a general knowledge of its prophylactic meaning.
Ex Ponto Nr. 3-4 (82-83), (Anul XXII), iulie-decembrie 2024, pages 190-200
-prin abonamente și direct, de la sediul redacției -revista poate fi citită integral și gratuit î... more -prin abonamente și direct, de la sediul redacției -revista poate fi citită integral și gratuit în arhiva sa pe www.exponto.ro
Dissertationes Archaeologicae 3.12 (2024), pp. 333–342
In recent years, real estate developments in Constanța prompted a series of preventive archaeolog... more In recent years, real estate developments in Constanța prompted a series of preventive archaeological investigations, leading to the discovery of rich archaeological material. These finds include a bone statuette found in the Palazu Mare district of Constanța. In this context, the nucleus of habitation, previously inferred from various archaeological finds from the Roman period, has been identified. Numerous surveys and preventive archaeological investigations have allowed for a clearer delimitation of the archaeological site of Palazu Mare. Regarding chronology, the settlement (possibly a vicus) can be dated from the 2nd–3rd centuries to the early decades of the 4th century AD. The statuette in question was carved out of ivory, measuring 6 cm in height and 1.7 cm in width. It was made as a representation of the god Thanatos, the personification of the Angel of Death in Greek and Roman mythology. Unfortunately, the statuette is incomplete; the left hand and parts of the legs are missing, along with the wings originally located on its back. The closest analogy for our representation comes from Northern France, where a small bronze statue was discovered in a villa rustica in Salouël, a commune located on the outskirts of Amiens. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the function of the object to which the statue pertains, we classify it as instrumentum domesticum, a category that includes a variety of objects that were part of everyday Roman life. The discoveries made here are considered quite rare due to the material of the statuette, and the context in which it was found. Based on previous observations, it can be said that Thanatos is typically a characteristic of funerary art and is therefore rarely found in domestic contexts. Ivory statues are particularly uncommon in the Dobrudja region of Moesia Inferior.
ACTA MVSEI APVLENSIS APULUM LXI series ARCHAEOLOGICA ET ANTHROPOLOGICA, 2024, p. 377-393
Genius Cucullatus (pl. genii cucullati) is a deity of Celtic origin widespread in both the contin... more Genius Cucullatus (pl. genii cucullati) is a deity of Celtic origin widespread in both the continental sphere of influence of the Celtic world and the British Archipelago. The name derives from the hood he wears on his head (cucullatus) attached to a mantle. In continental Europe hooded spirits are represented singularly, whereas in Britannia cucullatii invariably appear in threes. Although their functionality and significance are not very clear, they are unanimously considered to be fertility genies. In the Roman world, genies represented spirits that could be found in objects, totems and sometimes even people, offering protection and guidance. They are protective spirits found everywhere in the abstract sphere of humans and even gods.
Pontic Treasures. Artefacts from the collections of the Museum of National History and Archaeology from Constanţa I, 2024, pp. 92-97
Descrierea CIP este disponibilă la Biblioteca Naţională a României.
Pontic Treasures. Artefacts from the collections of the Museum of National History and Archaeology from Constanţa I, 2024, pp. 68-74
Descrierea CIP este disponibilă la Biblioteca Naţională a României.
Pontic Treasures. Artefacts from the collections of the Museum of National History and Archaeology from Constanţa I, 2024, pp. 41-43
Descrierea CIP este disponibilă la Biblioteca Naţională a României.
Ex Ponto Nr. 2-3 (77-78), (Anul XXI), mai – iunie – iulie – august 2023, pages 174-184
Poziţia economică şi strategică însemnată a teritoriului dintre Dunărea şi Marea Neagră, care va ... more Poziţia economică şi strategică însemnată a teritoriului dintre Dunărea şi Marea Neagră, care va fi cunoscută în perioada Antichității Târzii sub numele de Scythia, a determinat Roma să-şi îndrepte privirile de timpuriu asupra sa. Primul contact serios, are loc mai concret între anii 72 - 71 a.Chr., când guvernatorul Macedoniei, Marcus Terentius Varro Lucullus porneşte spre nord, executând o diversiune în cadrul celui de-al treilea război mithridatic. Intenția romanilor era de-a scoate de sub influența lui Mithridates al VI – lea Eupator, regele Pontului, atât triburile tracice cât și a cetăților grecești de pe malul stâng al Pontului. Campania porneşte concomitent cu cea a fratelui său, L. Licinius Lucullus, care între ani 73-71 a. Chr. lupta în Asia împotriva aceluiași rege. Introducerea în sfera de influență romană a cetăților grecești și a teritoriilor aferente, conferea dominaţiei romane o mai bună stabilitate a provinciilor din Peninsula Balcanică și un control asupra linei Dunării și a coastei vest-pontice. Campania lui Lucullus ar putea fi considerată una dintre primele și cele mai importante etape în instaurarea dominaţiei romane la Gurile Dunării.
Ex Ponto Nr. 1 (76), (Anul XXI), ianuarie – februarie – martie – aprilie 2023, pages 169-176
Continuând seria notelor arheologice pe care le-am publicat în Ex Ponto de-a lungul anilor, în ar... more Continuând seria notelor arheologice pe care le-am publicat în Ex Ponto de-a lungul anilor, în articolul de față dorim să prezentăm cititorilor revistei precum și specialiștilor din domeniul istoriei și arheologiei, o cărămidă cu simboluri creștine descoperită la Tropaeum Traiani (Adamclisi, jud. Constanța) în anul 1974. Deși a fost publicată foarte succint în monografia dedicată cetății din 1979, intitulată Tropaeum Traini I. Cetatea, considerăm că nu a primit atenția cuvenită, de aceea dorim să-i facem o analiză amănunțită în cele ce urmează.
Pontica 55, 2022, p. 319-344.
In the present study, the authors present a batch of 15 clay oil lamps from the collection of the... more In the present study, the authors present a batch of 15 clay oil lamps from the collection of the Museum of National History and Archeology in Constanța, discovered at Capidava in 2015 during the restoration project of the site. The lot is divided into seven categories very well known in the late Roman and early Byzantine times in the province of Scythia, as well as in the neighboring provinces. The ratio of imports to provincial/local production is rather inequitable, with the weight being higher for local centres. It is important to note that many of the lamps are local imitations of the well-known types originating in Asia Minor from Miletus and Ephesus, or from the North African area, with centers in Egypt and Tunisia. The flourishing trade, but especially the exchanges of annona-type goods specific to the 6th century AD for the quaestura Iustiniana exercitus, can also be observed in the material presented in the present study.
VARIA ARCHAEOLOGICA (II) ARHEOLOGIE ÎN PANDEMIE. PROVOCĂRI ÎN ARHEOLOGIA ROMÂNEASCĂ ÎN ANII 2020–2021, 2022
The study shows six fibulae that were discovered, using a metal detector, in the locality of Drăg... more The study shows six fibulae that were discovered, using a metal detector, in the locality of Drăgești (Bacău County). The fibulae are divided into five categories: Carpic‑type fibulae, knee brooches, brooches of A VII type, brooches with recurved foot, and cast fibulae with bent stem. They are dated from the 1st to the 6th century AD. Though they were not found in an archaeological context, we may admit that the ethnical attribution of the persons having worn the fibulae, corroborated with discoveries from other settlements and necropolises, indicates a native “Daco‑Carpic” population with strong Roman, Sarmatian, and Germanic influences. The objects found at Drăgești suggest the hypothesis of the existence of a settlement with one or more habitation phases.
In medias res antiquorum. Miscellanea in honorem annos LXV peragetis professoris Costel Chiriac oblat, Cluj-Napoca, 2022, p. 167-184
Dans cette étude, les auteurs présentent treize quenouilles de verre de la collection du Musée d’... more Dans cette étude, les auteurs présentent treize quenouilles de verre de la collection du Musée d’histoire nationale et d’archéologie de Constanta, découvertes dans des sépultures romaines du Ier et du IIe siècle ap. J.-C. Conventionnellement appelées « baguettes de verre », elles ont été interprétées au fil du temps comme des instruments utilisés à des fins médicales, dans l’utilisation des produits cosmétiques, pour mélanger des liquides ou même comme des épingles à cheveux. Selon les dernières études, les quenouilles de verre ont été associées au monde féminin funéraire, symbolisant le travail de la laine. Dans le monde romain, le filage, notamment celui de la laine, était une vertu, qui a pris au fil du temps une dimension symbolique positive. Dans la vie d’une femme, le filage était considéré comme un signe de l’activité domestique et aussi un gage moral de celle-ci. Il a donc acquis un caractère idéologique fort dans les cérémonies nuptiales et funéraires. Les quenouilles en verre sont répertoriées dans toutes les provinces de l’Empire Romain à partir du Ier siècle ap. J.-C. Elles sont datées par l’association directe avec les monnaies du Ier et du IIe siècle ap. J.-C. trouvées dans les tombes. Une caractéristique particulière est leur fréquence élevée dans les sépultures féminines, faisant dûment partie de l’inventaire funéraire tout au long du IIe siècle ap. J.-C., comme on peut le voir dans les nécropoles du nord de la péninsule italienne, de la Pannonie et de la Moésie Supérieure, etc.
Pontica 54, 2021, p. 395-407.
In the present study we want to present a number of seven fibulae specific to the 6th century AD ... more In the present study we want to present a number of seven fibulae specific to the 6th century AD discovered at Ulmetum. The brooches are divided into two main categories: 1. Fibulae with bent stem - five objects; 2. Cast fibulae with bent stem - two objects. Both types represent a category of clothing accessories very common in the Byzantine provinces of the Balkan Peninsula during the mentioned century. They are found very frequently in civil settlements, fortifications, and necropolises. Although their manufacture is not very complicated, they were produced on a smaller scale in barbaricum also. The considerable number of fibulae discovered in various contexts indicates both their demand and their large-scale production, being a phenomenon of the "clothing fashion" of the 6th century AD.
Ex Ponto, 3-4, (70-71), 2021, p. 166-173.
Dossiers d'archéologie. Hors série, 40, 2021, p. 70-73.
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Edited Books by Radu Petcu
Antiquity and Late Antiquity by Radu Petcu