Eburnei nuntii: i dittici consolari e la diplomazia imperiale del VI secolo

This article deals with ivory consular diptychs dating around the first half of the sixth century. All these diptychs but one depict consuls appointed in Constantinople, but they were all found in the former Western Roman Empire, mainly in cities belonging to the Frankish Kingdom. Considering their chronology and sixth century history, this paper shows that consular diptychs were often sent by the emperor to Germanic kings or Roman senators as diplomatic gifts. A specific focus is dedicated to the Barberini Diptych, which arrived in Gaul together with a Byzantine embassy. The Frankish king Clovis is portrayed as a consul on its left panel.