Römisch oder karolingisch? Zu einer Steinplatte aus Mainz

Abstract

100 years ago a decorated, unusually shaped stone slab was discovered in Mainz; it was published again by M. Schulze-Dörrlamm. According to the ornaments, the piece should date to the second half of the 8th century, and according to the thrones from Aachen and Goslar, it could be identified as the armrest of a royal throne. However, form and tendril ornaments are similar to a group of Roman objects, the decorated tops of stone tables from the 2nd and 3rd century mainly distributed in Pannonia.