Artifacts from Ancient Rome PDF
Preview Artifacts from Ancient Rome
ArtifActs from Ancient rome ArtifActs from Ancient rome James B. Tschen-Emmons Daily Life through Artifacts copyright © 2014 by ABc-cLio, LLc All rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data tschen-emmons, James B. Artifacts from ancient rome / James B. tschen-emmons. pages cm — (Daily life through artifacts) includes bibliographical references and index. isBn 978-1-61069-619-7 (hardback : alkaline paper) — isBn 978-1-61069-620-3 (e-book) 1. rome—Antiquities. 2. rome—History. 3. rome—civilization. i. title. DG77.t75 2014 937—dc23 2014014819 isBn: 978-1-61069-619-7 eisBn: 978-1-61069-620-3 18 17 16 15 14 1 2 3 4 5 this book is also available on the World Wide Web as an eBook. Visit www.abc-clio.com for details. Greenwood An imprint of ABc-cLio, LLc ABc-cLio, LLc 130 cremona Drive, P.o. Box 1911 santa Barbara, california 93116-1911 this book is printed on acid-free paper manufactured in the United states of America contents Preface vii GROOMING, CLOTHING, Acknowledgments xi AND ACCESSORIES Introduction xiii fibula 103 How to Evaluate Artifacts xix Perfume Bottle 109 Chronology of Events xxv Phalera 115 Portrait Bust 121 COMMUNICATIONS razor 127 AND RECORD KEEPING sandals 133 Abacus 3 strigil 139 calendar 9 Toga Praetexta 147 Graffiti 15 inkwell 21 HOUSEHOLD ITEMS seal ring 27 cave canem mosaic 155 Wax tablet 33 Drainpipes 161 oil Lamp 169 COOKING AND FOOD Public toilets 175 Amphora 41 sundial 181 Bread oven 47 cooking Pot 53 RELIGION AND FUNERARY Dining couch 61 PRACTICES Aedicule memorial 189 ENTERTAINMENT Bulla 197 Dice and tavern Game Board 69 catacombs 203 Lyre 75 curse tablet 209 mosaic of a Boxer 81 Lar 215 theatrical mask 89 Sistrum 221 toys 95 Votive male torso 227 v vi Contents TOOLS AND WEAPONS TRANSPORTATION Ballista 235 farm cart 275 coin mold 243 Horse Bit 281 fasces 249 milestone 287 Gladius 255 rostrum 295 scales and steelyard 261 scalpels and Bronze scissors 267 Select Bibliography 301 Index 315 PrefAce Artifacts from Ancient Rome explores the history of 45 artifacts that cover most areas of roman life, from dress to cooking, from dice games to theater, from bakers’ ovens to the baths. chronologically, most of the ar- tifacts covered here date to the last centuries BCE and the first centuries ce, but since many of these object types enjoyed long lives in the roman world, they can tell us a great deal about the centuries before and after this period too. in some respects, the age of the items is an accident of history, of what has survived and what we have found. many, for exam- ple, hail from the ashes of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the famous cities buried by volcanic ash in 79 ce. these artifacts can act as primary sources—that is, as documents written at the time—and can be used in much the same way not only as windows into a culture, but also as exam- ples and evidence in assignments. several things about these items may be striking. some artifacts, such as razors, have changed little in the last 2,000 years; others, such as strigils, are no longer used or recognizable. cosmetic containers are still much the same size; togas, on the other hand, have been out of fashion in the Western world for centuries. thus, the objects that people used in the past are at once familiar, since we are peo- ple too, and foreign, since today’s world is so different in key ways from that of rome. ORGANIZATION The book is organized into two chief sections. In the first section, there is an introduction that provides a brief examination of the period covered by the artifacts within this volume. since many of the artifact types were in use for decades, if not centuries, the introduction covers in broad strokes the ori- gins of rome in the eighth century Bce to the retaking of italy by emperor Justinian in the sixth century ce. the chronology of events, which sets out selected dates and their significance, provides further information about this history. few of the individual artifacts, if any, in this book were in constant use during the span of roman history, but each is representative of its type, vii viii Preface and many objects had long histories. Votive offerings, such as the terra-cotta male torso, were used by ancient patients in search of divine aid for centu- ries and well after the roman world had transformed into the medieval world. there is also a “How to evaluate Artifacts” section that provides the reader with tools for gaining a greater appreciation of the artifacts they will encounter in the book and elsewhere. Artifacts, even when recognizable, require us to interpret them. for example, the gladius, the legionary’s sword, is recognizable as a sword, but there is much to learn from the materials from which it was made as well as from its size, its shape, where it was found, and who—if we know—carried it. for each of the 45 entries in the second section there is an introduction, a description of the artifact itself, and a discussion of its significance. Many artifacts are not well known and will thus open up areas of history not cov- ered in many other works. each entry also has a list of sources for further information and, where appropriate, internet sources. to the extent possi- ble, each entry covers the span of that particular artifact’s use in the roman world from its first appearance to its last, who used it, and why. One advan- tage of this approach is that it provides a glimpse inside not only the general culture, but also into individual lives. the aedicule memorial, for example, is typical of its type but tells us specifically about a woman named Paccia Helpis. Each entry explains and expands upon the cultural significance of the artifact depicted. Artifacts are divided into thematic categories and together provide a composite look at daily life in ancient rome. the categories are • Communications and Record Keeping • Cooking and Food • Entertainment • Grooming, Clothing, and Accessories • Household Items • Religion and Funerary Practices • Tools and Weapons • Transportation These categories make it easy to browse and to find associated artifacts. If one is interested in researching the lives of roman students, for example, the section “Communications and Record Keeping” has several entries, such as “Wax tablet” and “inkwell” that reveal key aspects of student life. i have cross-referenced sections and entries as well. for example, the “Wax tablet” entry contains a cross-reference to the “Toga Praetexta” entry in the “Grooming, clothing, and Accessories” section, as the toga entry covers other aspects of young men’s lives, and the “Toga Praetexta” entry contains Preface ix a cross-reference to the “Bulla” entry. taken together, these entries provide an examination of the lives of roman youths through the objects they used every day. In terms of what makes something significant or not, most artifacts are important for a variety of reasons; it depends on how one defines the term and in what context one works. in a work this size, it is not possible to cover all the possible ways that any one item is significant as an object of history. Any author has to be selective, but in deciding what to focus upon, i have opted in most cases for what follows most directly from the object itself. for example, with the roman “milestone” entry the major topic is transportation and how roman roads were so critical to the spread of peo- ples, ideas, and products. on the other hand, some objects, such as sandals, could be taken in different directions. one of the more iconic pieces of footwear is the caliga, or legionary’s boot, so much of the significant sec- tion for that entry focuses on footwear in the army and related military equipment. in each case, however, there is a relationship between the arti- fact and the chief significances discussed. OTHER FEATURES many entries also contain primary sources, excerpted and separated in side- bars, that shed light on artifacts. this can be a powerful tool, for the study of artifacts with associated primary sources and explanations is a multifac- eted way to gain a tangible view of ancient life; it is a visual way of relating to the past. After all, one can “read” an artifact as well as a primary source, but to view an object as one reads a piece from the time that describes its use or user evokes a clearer, more vivid idea of the past. these primary sources are also excellent places to begin further study. Other sidebars within entries may include short definitions of key terms or people. Words in Latin or Greek are translated, as are those few objects with inscriptions. in translating the latter, i have opted to try to capture both the feel of the Latin and a readable english version. inscriptions were highly abbreviated and assumed a familiarity with conventions particular to writ- ing succinctly on stone, so they make for challenging if interesting reading. Words within brackets are supplied to help reader makes sense of passages. the value of this approach for students is twofold: they get all the bene- fits of a reference work with explanations and mention of primary sources, but also they see, right there on the page, the very object that brings a par- ticular aspect of the roman world to life. General readers with an interest in ancient history will likewise benefit from this approach.
Description:The list of books you might like
