Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Late Antique Rome'

This thesis examines the changing meaning and conceptualisation of the city boundary of Rome, from the late republic and imperial periods into late antiquity. It is my aim in this study to present a range of archaeological and historical material from three areas of interest: the historical development of the city boundary, from the pomerium to the Aurelian wall, change and continuity in the ritual activities associated with the border, and the reasons for the shift in burial topography in the fifth century AD. I propose that each of these three subject areas will demonstrate the wide range of restrictions and associations made with the city boundary of Rome, and will note in particular instances of continuity into late antiquity. It is shown that there is a great degree of continuity in the behaviours of the inhabitants of Rome with regard to the conceptualisation of their city boundary. The wider proposal made during the course of this study, is that the fifth century was significant in the development of Rome – archaeologically, historically, and conceptually – but not for the reasons that are traditionally given. I have pushed back against the idea that this era was defined by its turbulence, and have constructed an argument that highlights the vast inheritance of the city of Rome that is so often ignored in discussions of the fifth century.

This thesis is a systematic examination of the use of the term phoideratos in Greek and how it relates to the Greek word symmachos. The term was recognized as not precisely equivalent to its Latin cognate foederatus over a century ago by Jean Maspero, but no complete study of every use of the term has been made until now. This has been facilitated by the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae, an online database of searchable Greek texts. These terms are important since they provide a framework within which foreigners came to serve the Roman army. They also reveal the changing nature of that army, and how the foederati, formerly allies who came to serve the Roman state in exchange for a combination of land, supplies, and cash became the phoideratoi, an elite regular unit in the Roman army. Meanwhile, symmachos came to refer to those who were formerly called phoideratoi. This interpretation is crucial since some modern historiography has considered the phoideratoi of the sixth century as equivalent to the foederati of the fourth.

Art History
Ph.D.
This dissertation explores in the ways in which decorum, or the appropriateness of form and behavior, served as an underlying principle in the patronage, design, and construction of monumental architecture, sculpture, and inscriptions by the aristocratic elite of late antique urban environments. Throughout the dissertation, I deliberately turn my attention away from imperial buildings like Emperor Justinian's (r. 527-565) Hagia Sophia and towards those projects financed by aristocrats and elites, with a focus placed upon those associated with the gens Anicii and their sphere. It is through the discussions of the built environments of Rome, Constantinople, and Ravenna in the fourth through sixth centuries CE, that my dissertation reveals the ways in which aristocrats and elites, like members of the gens Anicii and wealthy bankers like Julianus Argentarius, were able to concretize their power in periods of political change. Their employment of a decorum of architecture, based upon Vitruvian and Ciceronian ideals, demonstrates the central role these individuals played in the shaping of the visual culture of the late antique Mediterranean. It was through the patronage of statues and buildings that were thoughtfully dedicated, strategically located, and purposefully decorated that these wealthy patrons were able to galvanize their non-imperial authority. In historical moments wracked by war, plague, and political instability, the finance and construction of large-scale statuary on prominently inscribed plinths, as well as solid, immovable buildings afforded these elites with a sense of permanence and stability that, they hoped, would last in perpetuity.
Temple University--Theses

In the early fourth century AD, the Roman Empire underwent at least two significant transformations in the ways it was governed. Firstly, Rome ceased to be the residence of emperors. From the last visit of the emperor Constantine in 326 until the end of the century, there were only two imperial visits to Rome. Secondly, a series of ceremonial, institutional and fiscal recalibrations magnified the visibility and extractive capacity of the imperial state. This doctoral thesis explores the impact of these developments on senators in Rome. Late Roman aristocrats were an imperial aristocracy, whose social life, cultural identity and economic survival were inextricably intertwined with the institutions of the Roman state. Imperial withdrawal and the late-antique strenghthening of imperial institutions did not lead to the outbreak of a fierce ideological conflict between resident senators and court, but rather intensified divisions within aristocratic society. New fiscal pressures, a rise in competitive expenditure and a narrowing of access to senior government posts had the consequence that many aristocrats could no longer participate in the competition for honour, wealth and offices. But not all suffered from the new configuration of power. After imperial . withdrawal, resident aristocrats were no longer the the proclaimed peers and potential rivals of the emperor. As a result, the most successful and imperiallyfavoured amongst them enjoyed chances for enrichment, patronage and self-display which far exceeded those of early imperial senators. A gap opened between few successful aristocrats, deeply involved in imperial government and ready to spend vast sums in the pursuit of their ambitions, and others who could no longer participate in the harsh competition for imperial and popular favour.

Through extensive use of primary and secondary material, this study examines the development of the late classical and early medieval town across three regions of north-western Europe in order to map physical and functional urban change and to identify the key factors linking a spatially and temporally broad study area. The three diverse but complementary areas of investigation consist of Britain, a region with a relatively tenuous, discontinuous urbanism, Gaul, with its persistence of urban functions and populations throughout the period of study, and Scandinavia and Ireland, regions revealing a late urbanism. In each core chapter the archaeological and documentary data for towns are reviewed followed by presentation of key case studies. Selected for their level/quality of investigation, these provide the essential platform for a wider discussion of urban roles between c. AD 300-1050. The thesis establishes that urban form and developmental trajectories were highly intricate, with considerable temporal and spatial diversity and, as a result, towns demonstrate strongly individualistic histories, with a heavy dependency upon setting, role(s) and, above all, human presences. Despite this variety, the emergence of royal authority, the Christian Church and inter-regional market economies are recognised as fundamental and consistent factors in the establishment, and continued existence, of a stable urban network.

The thesis argued is that in the fourth and fifth centuries ecclesiastical authorities in Rome sought to Christianise the city and its inhabitants through the location of new basilicas within the walls. The current consensus argues that all the churches constructed within the city were built where they were due to Christian land ownership of that site, because an area was a particularly populous one, or that there was a pre-Constantinian 'house-church' on the spot. This, for me, is looking at the city on too superficial a level. If we move away from this perspective and more towards a viewpoint that actually sees these fourth and fifth century churches in the context of the buildings that surrounded them, we can then regard them in the way the contemporary population of Rome would have. In this way, I believe we can reveal an intentional programme by the Roman Church of placing many of its centres of worship in strategically useful areas for its own benefit. In other words, the frequent proximity of these churches to other important buildings or public areas I believe had an effect on worshippers at those churches and on general passers-by. The intended effect, I would argue, was to increase church attendance and create visible and memorable Christian markers throughout the city in order to gradually 'Christianise' it. I put forward the idea that there were four main factors that Christian builders of this period consciously considered and looked for when they were building a new church. They were: (i) is it easily accessible or highly visible (ii) is it close to an area of frequent public congregation (iii) is it near to a significant pre-existing pagan structure or (iv) is it proximate to a bath house and therefore having some sort of relationship with it Not all the Christian churches of this period fit these criteria but, I conclude, most do and therefore argue for a conscious strategy by the Church to Christianise and consequently 'de-paganise' the city. The criteria I have described are not however new maxims for religious buildings. Most of these considerations were followed by the builders of pagan structures in the Classical city, although here for the benefit and notoriety of the builder rather than any desire to promote a specific cult. The increased popularity of a deity may have been an unintentional side-effect however, but whatever the case, such considerations certainly made temples the most visible and prominent buildings in a city. As a result, as well as examining Christian case-studies to argue my case, I will also look at the pagan structures that follow the same rules, as their prominence and importance was something the Church wanted to replicate for its centres of worship. This, I hope, will serve as a comparison and show how builders of churches were merely using more ancient techniques to achieve their ends. My thesis begins with a broad introduction including the historiography of the topic, which in fact overlaps many fields, and where I stand within it. My first chapter sets out my reasoning for thinking that the Roman Church controlled its own building programme independently from the state and so could potentially choose sites on which to build for its own benefit. The second chapter begins my discussion of these churches by looking at those where visibility and easy accessibility was a priority. The third section looks at those Christian centres that can claim an association with a pagan temple or shrine and what the implications of this may be. The fourth and fifth chapters examine those churches that have some sort of relationship with a theatre or circus or a bath-house respectively. Finally, I argue against the theory that some intra-mural churches were built on the site of famous martyrdoms by showing how the evidence for this is anachronistic and suspicious. To serve as a comparison, the belief that certain churches were built over a martyr's tomb is justifiable, as here we have reliable and convincing evidence. To complete the thesis I draw together the accumulated evidence and make my conclusions.

Le IVe siècle de notre ère représente indéniablement un tournant majeur dans l’histoire de l’Europe occidentale. Le passage du christianisme du statut de culture marginale d’une communauté religieuse à celui de pôle culturel et normatif à l’échelle d’une société constitue une transition caractéristique de l’Antiquité tardive, qui s’est d’abord opérée sur le terrain des systèmes sociaux de référence que sont le temps et l’espace – lieux d’expression identitaire. La richesse documentaire de l’"Vrbs" ajoutée à sa position de capitale historique et de cité de première importance pour le christianisme en font un cadre d’étude singulier. Cette enquête sur le partage du temps et de l’espace, entre la victoire du Pont Milvius (312) et le sac d’Alaric (410), propose une reconstruction des temps de la cité et une exploration des mécanismes de développement de l’organisation calendaire de l’Église et d’insertion au sein de la trame temporelle urbaine (partie 1). Sur la base d’un catalogue qui actualise le "LTVR(S)", elle reconstitue la topographie polythéiste et examine l’inscription de l’ancrage matériel du culte chrétien au sein du territoire romain (partie 2). Au travers de ces analyses transversales et d’études de cas (partie 3), elle tente aussi de comprendre des modes d’interaction, de coexistence religieuse au sein d’une société. La recherche replace le curseur sur la continuité plutôt que la rupture. Elle révèle un modèle prioritairement intégratif et une stratégie de conformité aux dynamiques romaines dans le partage du temps et de l’espace. Elle argumente sur une cohabitation religieuse globalement pacifique portée par un investissement identitaire commun focalisé sur la "Romanitas"
The fourth century AD is admittedly a major turning point in the history of Western Europe. The evolution of Christianity from the status of a marginal culture within a religious group to that of a cultural and normative pole within society constitutes an important transition specific to Late Antiquity. This transition from margin to norm started from the social frameworks of time and space, acting as strong identity markers. The great amount of evidence from the "Vrbs", its position as historical capital, as its recognized status as important city for the development of Christianity, make it a specific research framework. This study, which focuses on the sharing of time and space between the victory of the Milvius Bridge (312) and the sack of Alaric (410), reconstructs the organization of the times in the city and explores the mechanisms behind the development of the calendar structure of the Church within this urban space (part 1). On the basis of a catalogue that brings up to date the "LTVR(S)", this study rebuilds the polytheistic topography and scrutinizes the material inscription of the Christian cult on the Roman territory (part 2). On the basis of these cross-sectional analyses and case studies (part 3), it also attempts at understanding the modes of religious co-existence and interaction within a society. The results point towards a sense of continuity rather than breaking. This dissertation reveals a model that favours integration and conformation strategies to the Roman dynamics in the sharing of time and space. It argues in favour of a religious cohabitation mostly peaceful led by a common identity investment focused on the "Romanitas"

La prière, parce qu’elle suppose une reconnaissance du pouvoir des mots et des gestes, est une pratique tangible et un fait historique. Étudier sa nature et ses évolutions fait progresser la connaissance des comportements et des dispositifs religieux. Ainsi, les prières formulées par les empereurs romains, qu’ils soient païens ou chrétiens, participent de la manifestation de leur pouvoir et de l’expression des rapports complexes entre l’individu, la communauté et le monde divin. Néanmoins la nature de la documentation et la spécificité des différents systèmes religieux conduisent à privilégier une relative synchronie. L’étude des prières récitées par l’empereur dans la célébration des cultes publics permet de préciser l’articulation entre la personne impériale et la communauté publique. Sur le temps long, il est alors possible de discuter les supposées évolutions ou mutations de ces responsabilités et de leurs représentations. Aussi la nature même des prières romaines peut-elle être éclairée au regard des interrogations modernes sur les religions antiques et des concepts de spiritualisation, d’individualisation ou de performance collective. La définition du paysage cultuel des empereurs romains permet de reconsidérer le sens même de la prière individuelle et de ses enjeux religieux et sociaux. L’ensemble de ces approches se prolonge harmonieusement avec le passage du paganisme au christianisme. La place des empereurs dans le culte communautaire, la possible élaboration de dispositifs cultuels spécifiques et la représentation de leurs prières individuelles ou personnelles participent de l’étude historique de la lente constitution d’un christianisme impérial romain divers
The prayer is a tangible practice and a historical fact. It implies recognition of the power of words and gestures. The study of its nature and evolutions improves knowledge of religious behaviours and setups. Prayers made by pagan or Christian Roman emperors involve representation of their power and show the complex relationship between the person, the community and the divine world. However, the available documentation and the specificity of different religious systems lead to adopt a relative synchrony. The prayers said in public cults are used to study the relationship between the imperial person and public community. It is then possible to have a long-term discussion of the supposed changes or mutations of these responsibilities and their images. The nature of Roman prayers can be discussed by the modern interrogations about antique religions and concepts such as spiritualization, individualization and collective performance. The definition of the Roman emperors worship landscape allows reconsidering the very meaning of individual prayer together with its religious and social issues. All these approaches extend harmoniously from Paganism to early Christianity. The position of emperors in community worship, the development of specific worship setup and representation of individual or personal prayers are part of an historical study focused on the slow formation of a diverse Roman imperial Christianity

The main objective of this thesis is to establish the circulation dynamics of late roman coinage in the roman ciuitates of Girona and Empúries during the historical period known as the Late Roman Empire. To do so, we studied the coins recovered during archaeological works in the aforementioned territories, which lead to the constitution of an exhaustive catalogue of the coinage. In turn, the catalogue allowed the statistical analyses of the same, as well as the generation of a global vision of the coinage found in the region. Under the premise that regional economies differ among themselves, we believe that the local study of regional economies, such as the one studied here, can provide a better understanding of the global roman dynamics of the Empire. The present thesis goes beyond the study of coinage circulation, and extends to topics such as the nature of the economy – attempting to determine whether the economy was monetary or weight based – as well as the conception of the coin in the economic system, while also determining if it had a trust or a weight value. We also pretend to characterize the circulating coinage on the basis of an array of factors: metal, type, chronology, mint, and emissary. Through the study of these factors we can determine which were the coins that reached the studied territory. Moreover, the importance of the imitative coinage is also evaluated, given that it is a key to understand the economy in the zone. Finally, we compare data extracted of the studied territory with other published data from different territories of Spain and Europe, in an attempt to see if there are overarching similar dynamics between those appreciated in the Girona and Empúries territories during the Late Roman Empire and their Spanish and European counterparts.
Aquest treball té com a principal objectiu establir els patrons de circulació de la moneda baiximperial al territori de les ciuitates de Girona i Empúries durant el període que es coneix com a baix Imperi romà. Serà a través d’un exhaustiu estudi de tot el material numismàtic recuperat en excavacions arqueològiques, que quedarà agrupat en un catàleg, des d’on s’elaboren les estadístiques i el buidatge de dades que permeten definir quin tipus de moneda fou la més present en el territori i plantejar-nos el perquè. Partim de la premissa que les economies regionals poden ser molt diferents i que és a través d’estudis locals com el que aquí plantegem des d’on es pot abordar la confecció de models econòmics globals per al baix Imperi, així com veure l’afectació real de les reformes i els canvis en el valor nominal de la moneda sobre el terreny. A més de la circulació pròpiament dita s’aborden altres temes, essent un dels més destacats establir quina era el tipus d’economia imperant al territori: de base natural o per contra monetitzada; però també quina era la concepció de la pròpia moneda dins el sistema econòmic: si posseïa un valor fiduciari o era un valor de base ponderal. Es realitza també una caracterització de diferents aspectes de la moneda circulant, tant del tipus majoritari com de la resta. Així doncs a partir de l’estudi del metall, el nominal, la cronologia, la procedència i l’emissor s’estableixen quines són les monedes que més arribaren al territori i plantegem quines foren les més usades de manera plausible. El pes de les monedes d’imitació dins dels circuits monetaris també és avaluat, atès que és un element clau en l’aproximació al tipus d’economia. Finalment, es comparen les dades extretes en aquest territori amb les que altres estudiosos han analitzat en altres zones, amb la voluntat de copsar possibles dinàmiques similars en altres regions imperials.

The major European epidemic of bubonic plague in the sixth century C.E. – named for the ruling Byzantine emperor, Justinian – devastated the empire at the same time that outside pressures in the form of Goths, Vandals, Persians and others were also eroding the territory held by the Byzantines. While far less documentation survives the period between 550-750 C.E. than does for the periods before and after, we do have numerous references to specific plague outbreaks with which it is possible to reconstruct a transmission path and timeline. The combination of geographical information systems (GIS) tools, literary references, modern archaeological finds and DNA analysis of excavated sixth-century C.E. graves creates an opportunity past researchers of this plague have not had for linking individual outbreaks. Synthesizing this data gives us a more detailed path of transmission than has previously been available and more clearly illustrates the relationships between various cities and countries through which the plague moved during the epidemic. Although several authors have done outstanding work tracing the path of the plague through specific regions, no prior work has combined all known literary references to the Justinianic plague for the specific purpose of mapping its course. This thesis attempts to do just that by combining the plague outbreak information with trading data, evidence from shipwrecks, ancient road information, archaeological finds, and other materials to present a plausible transmission scenario. This synthesis reveals, in many cases, a startlingly clear relationship between cities during phases of the epidemic. While epidemiological work has strongly suggested that waterborne transmission was required for the speed of the spread, it is evident when all available information is mapped. Holes in our information are similarly highlighted, and present opportunities for focused plague-related research and/or excavation. This thesis presents a fresh look at old data, but also opens the door for new questions and lines of inquiry.

The present thesis examines two ceramic assemblages from the villa baths at Pollena Trocchia, Italy. The private bath complex was likely part of the Roman villa built at the beginning of the 2nd century AD and buried under the volcanoclastic debris of the AD 472 eruption which provided an important terminus ante quem. The previous studies demonstrated that in the 5th century AD the bath complex became a pottery dump and cemetery. Nevertheless, a different picture was drawn from the excavation of the underground cistern in the north-western part of the baths. In order to better understand the purpose of the cistern prior to the eruption, which sealed most of the site, the pottery assemblage from the cistern was compared to the assemblage from one of the bathrooms identified as the laconicum. In fact, the cistern uncovered rather low number of individuals compared to the rest of the baths and the ratio of attested pottery classes was limited. While the African imports were almost absent, there was a great number of local products. Most of the shapes consisted of locally produced jugs of big volume, which could be associated with the water-supply system. When possible, the individuals were dated to the second half of the 5th century. Therefore, it is likely that the cistern was still in use a long...

Dissertation .. The approaches towards death and burial in different historical epochs of mankind dealing with a view of death in intellectual conceptions during the history. People have been engaged in the question of life and deaths for ages. It is one of the oldest, the hardests and the most fundamental questions which are asked. We can think of the death in two levels: a general and a personal. The comprehension of deaths was developing in history. Thesis traces, what affected and how it is possible, that the today`s subject of personal death states taboo, even if masmedia floods us with death of others. For understanding, the thesis goes throught history. From the methodological aspects it follows the time line, divides the history into ancient world, the Middle Ages and modern period, as well as on horizontal line following individually nations and their intellectual directions.