In the Middle Ages, imaginative re-use was made of architectural components from classical antiquity such as columns, capitals, cornices, and even statues, sarcophagi, reliefs and inscriptions; the motives ranged from simple utilisation of materials through interpretatio christiana to political legitimation. The author demonstrates how this re-use has been assessed by archaeologists, historians and art historians and what insights they have gained.
< ody>Arnold Esch, Klassischer Archäologe und Historiker, ist emeritierter Professor für mittelalterliche Geschichte an der Universität Bern und leitete 1988–2001 das Deutsche Historische Institut in Rom.
