"Et palmae arbor valida". Alcuni spunti sull’iconografia della palma nella pittura nilotica romana

Resumen

The present article focuses on the crucial role played by the iconography of the palm in the build up of the representation of the roman conceived nilotic landscape. The first part of the article starts with a general introduction covering the rich variety of meanings associated with this particular plant, analyzing a timespan starting from the first evidence recovered in Mesopotamia up to the classic Greek and Roman world. The second part instead is focused on the more specific nilotic context with the aim of highlighting the close link between the African continent, and more specifically Egypt, and the representation of the palm. Finally it is show that the use of the palm in the artistic representation of the roman age nilotic landscape is of paramount importance as an essential marker of the making of the picta nilotica.