Centcelles el monumento tardorromano

An examination of the 1995 Rome colloquium proceedings compiled in Centcelles. El monumento tardorromano: iconografía y arquitectura reveals a critical juncture in the historiographical debate surrounding the Late Roman monumental complex of Centcelles near Tarraco. Scholars reevaluate long-held paradigms concerning the structural functionality and complex iconographic program of the site's central domed chamber. By integrating architectural survey data with rigorous iconographic analysis, the contributors dispute early imperial interpretations, particularly Helmut Schlunk's attribution of the monument as a mausoleum for the Emperor Constans. Instead, opposing hypotheses emerge, contrasting secular aristocratic self-representation—exemplified by private status display—against ecclesiastical frameworks depicting an episcopal figure within liturgical and instructional contexts. The collective findings underscore the necessity of a unified, comprehensive archaeological assessment of the villa's physical remains, material culture, and construction phases. Ultimately, the volume highlights the polysemic nature of Late Antique art, leaving open the dialogue regarding the domestic, funerary, or administrative purpose of this exceptional Iberian monument.