Cultural Diffusion in the Architecture of the Ancient World (on the Example of the Cult of Isis in the 3rd Century BC – 2nd Century AD)

Abstract

The practice of borrowing and mixing architectural forms and meanings from different cultural environments dates back to the architecture of the ancient world and is still relevant today. Therefore, discovering its origins, mechanisms and causes of development is an important subject in the theory and history of architecture. The purpose of the study is to introduce the concept of cultural diffusion, as a methodological technique for mixing architectural forms from different artistic environments, which contributes to the development of qualitatively new solutions that form new architectural styles and synthesise new meanings. It is also vital to substantiate the phenomena of cultural diffusion as the first and necessary stage of subsequent processes of development of architectural meaning and shape – the stage of conscious and reasonable choice of an architectural prototype for a new design. The main material for the study is objects related to the cult of Isis – one of the most common religious cults in the architecture of the ancient world, which belonged to the Greco-Roman civilisation. In terms of methodology, the study is based on the analysis and systematisation of papers on architectural objects associated with the cult of Isis, and the results of visual observations (description and comparative analysis). Using the example of architectural objects associated with the cult of Isis, the study demonstrates that in the architecture of the ancient world, various methodological approaches were developed in architectural form-making: both autonomous processes in different cultures and mixed, which involved the capabilities and means of various cultural environments, opening unlimited prospects for the development of architectural form and meaning. Scientific originality is the interpretation of the process of cultural diffusion as an important methodological prerequisite for a new architectural form and meaning development. This determines the practical importance of the study, since the phenomenon of cultural diffusion, as a methodological technique for the architect's work, is still relevant today