Dr. Habetzeder is from Uppsala University, Sweden, Department of Archaeology and Ancient History.

This paper presents the ongoing research project “Intertextuality and Roman Visual Culture. A New Approach to Roman Ideal Sculpture”. The paper illustrates how the two sculpture types traditionally ascribed to the Hellenistic sculpture-group “The Invitation to the Dance” can be interpreted using the theoretical concept of intertextuality. It is emphasized that the accurate repetition of forms in Roman ideal sculpture was not only due to the well-attested fascination for Greek and Hellenistic masterpieces. Repeated forms were also used as visual signifiers, which facilitated the interpretation of sculptures.