| In this study I will show the wealth and independence of Praenestine production in the 4th century BC. The style and iconography of the Praenestine cistas and other objects recovered from the 4th century necropolis of Praeneste are the material expression of the powerful influence of the Classical Greek style. This Hellenic influence, along with the local responses, created the artistic panorama of Italic production during this period.; I hope to show in my thesis that Praenestine cistas are a means to observe the phenomenon of Hellenization at Praeneste and in the cities of central Italy in the 4th century BC. The variety of workshops, the existence of itinerant craftsmen and models, and the taste and aspirations of those who commissioned these objects, characterized the production of Praeneste and help to explain its diversity.; Because the total production of cistas is so large and so diverse, I have chosen a group of four cistas which could have been made in the same workshop. The study of their iconography will show how Greek myths were appropriated and transformed to fit within the Praenestine culture. The examination of their cast attachments will place cistas within a wider cultural region, stylistically influenced by both Etruria and Latium.; The town of Praeneste was, since its origin, one of the most important cult places in Italy, long before the construction of the Sanctuary of Fortuna in the 2nd century BC. The sanctuary's importance and its fortunate geographic location, controlling two important commercial routes, between Etruria and Magna Graecia, made Praeneste an extraordinarily wealthy and sophisticated town.; Whether Rome was also a significant production center in the 4 th century BC, according to one interpretation of the inscription on the Ficoroni cista, is still an open question that cannot be answered by the 4th century Praenestine material. |
