The Monument of Gaius Julius Antiochus Epiphanes Philopappos: a funerary monument in a visual, comparative, and environmental context in Athens

Abstract

A landmark monument in the heart of Athens, the monument of Philopappos has been a part of the Athenian landscape for almost two thousand years, yet strangely enough, it has eluded the attention of many scholars. In an effort to correct this, and give the monument the attention it deserves, this thesis focuses on the importance of the monument, by examining it from multiple angle and within multiple contexts. This is done by focusing on the overarching question: What is this monument of Philopappos, why is it represented as it is, what makes it an important monument, and what can we learn from it about the intentions of the man behind the monument? In the process of answering these questions, we learn more about the monument of Philopappos, other comparable monuments, and landscape theory, resulting in a better understanding of both the monument itself and of the landscape, both social and physical, in which it takes part.