Visual analyses of propaganda imagery in the ancient citiy of aphrodisias

This study examines how art functioned as a tool of propaganda during the Roman Empire through a visual analysis of the reliefs in the Sebasteion of the ancient city of Aphrodisias. By highlighting themes such as the association of emperors with divine lineage and the reinforcement of political legitimacy through mythological scenes, the research sheds light on the ideological narratives of the era. It further explores how these historical images can be reinterpreted through contemporary art practices, employing AI-assisted visual production, digital collage, and symbolic analysis. Ancient iconography is reimagined through modern aesthetic codes, particularly by merging the figures of Aphrodite and Inanna with the image of the Anatolian woman, resulting in a multilayered visual narrative on cultural identity. This thesis offers an interdisciplinary contribution by integrating archaeology, art, and communication to reinterpret historical imagery through the lens of contemporary artistic approaches.