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DOI: 10.15862/06KLSK326 (https://doi.org/10.15862/06KLSK326)

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Rodin N.S. [The misattribution of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius: a semiotic analysis] World of Science. Series: Sociology, Philology, Cultural Studies, 2026, Vol. 17, No. 3. Available at: https://sfk-mn.ru/PDF/06KLSK326.pdf (in Russian). DOI: 10.15862/06KLSK326

The misattribution of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius: a semiotic analysis

Rodin Nikita Stanislavovich
Russian State Hydrometeorological University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
E-mail: rodinns@mail.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3040-3320
RSCI: https://elibrary.ru/author_profile.asp?id=1156420

Abstract. This article offers a semiotic analysis of the phenomenon of «cultural error» through the case of the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius — the only surviving bronze equestrian monument from antiquity, which owes its physical preservation to a medieval misattribution to the Emperor Constantine the Great. The study aims to identify the mechanisms behind the transformation of the cultural significance of the statue through its successive misinterpretations, applying the methodology of structural-semiotic analysis. The article proposes a typology of cultural errors (identification, interpretation, and reception) and argues that error performs positive functions of preservation, transformation, and communication within cultural dynamics. The scholarly novelty lies in treating the misattribution not as an isolated case of mistaken belief but as a meaning-generating factor in both diachronic and synchronic perspectives. The research draws on the theoretical framework of the Tartu-Moscow semiotic school (Yuri Lotman, Boris Uspensky), Umberto Eco’s concept of the «open work», and Charles S. Peirce’s classification of signs. The findings demonstrate that attribution error does not obstruct the transmission of cultural experience but rather serves as a necessary mechanism for its adaptation in the transition from one semiosphere to another. It is shown that the visual indeterminacy of the monument allowed for multiple readings (from imperial salute to Christian blessing), ensuring its integration into various cultural codes throughout history. Three successive semiotic statuses of the monument are revealed: ancient representation of power, Christian relic, and symbol of classical culture during the Renaissance. The article contributes to the theory of cultural dynamics and can be applied to the analysis of other cases of erroneous interpretation of artefacts.

Keywords: equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius; structural-semiotic approach; semiotics of culture; attribution error; cultural code; cultural text; intercultural communication; Yuri Lotman

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