Staging Imperial Aspirations: Spolia At Ljuboten And The Symbolic Role Of Antiquity, The Days of St. Emperor Constantine and Helena

Abstract

This study examines the deliberate placement of spolia and the fresco of King Stefan Dušan within St. Nicholas Church at Ljuboten (present- day North Macedonia). It argues that this visual strategy aimed to showcase Dušan’s authority and his ambition to claim the legacy of the Byzantine Empire as a successor to the Roman Empire. The deliberate juxtaposition of spolia with Dušan’s monumental portrait suggests an intentional evocation of Translatio Imperii, legitimizing his rule and associating him with the prestige of the past. The analysis connects architectural elements, the ruler’s portrait, and inscrip- tions of the west portal to illuminate the power dynamics within the Serbian nobility and Dušan’s aspirations for imperial dominance.