Ancient Rome Research Articles

What is Roman Reconciliation?

Abstract This paper examines in how far modern conceptualisations of peace and reconciliation map onto ancient Roman ideas of pax Romana and Roman reconciliation. Some modern definitions of reconciliation insist on mercy and forgiveness as part of reconciliation; comparing modern with ancient ideas of reconciliation as showcased in this special issue the author suggests to consider Roman reconciliation as coexistence rather than reconciliation in the modern sense.

Nondum tecum in gratiam redii (Suet. Tib . 61.5): Reconciliation and Compromise in the Tiberian Reign of Terror

Abstract In an anecdote written by Suetonius to emphasize Tiberius’ extreme cruelty, the emperor is said to have been so vindictive as to not only inflict death upon multitudes of people, but also keep death from others wishing to die. These people were imprisoned and sustained by the smallest rations of food, just enough to keep them alive and suffering. When one such victim begged to be put to death, the emperor replied that he had not yet made his peace with him. Unbelievable as this anecdote may be, it raises the question of whether, and on what terms, reconciliation with this seemingly unforgiving emperor would have been possible. Most ancient authors presented Tiberius as a cruel tyrant. This is especially so in their depiction of his so-called “reign of terror” following the death of his all-powerful praetorian prefect Sejanus in 31 CE, which saw the persecution of many of the latter’s followers. Nonetheless, some notable individuals escaped the fate of their comrades. Did Tiberius simply forgive the likes of Lentulus Gaetulicus and M. Terentius for their support of Sejanus, or did he rather compromise and come to terms with them, and if so, how, and why? In this article, I argue that despite Tiberius’ traditional image and the reality of his “reign of terror”, he was perfectly capable of making pragmatic and reasonable compromises to maintain relative peace with some of Sejanus’ most powerful adherents. I will also suggest that these compromises were hardly perceived as such, not just because of the prejudice of the sources against Tiberius, but perhaps also due to a semantic and conceptual gap, which made it difficult for the ancient Romans to accept compromise as a fact.

Impact of thermal processing on phytochemical profile and cardiovascular protection of Beta vulgaris L. in hyperlipidemic rats.

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) is globally recognized for its outstanding color and flavor. It has been acknowledged for its therapeutic value since the ancient Romans. It is used to treat cardiovascular disorders. The therapeutic benefits of red beetroot are due to the substantial amounts of various bioactive metabolites, such as ascorbic acid, carotenoids, nitrates, phenolics, and betalains. However, the bioavailability and shelf life of these substances are significantly affected by the considerable variations in their processing methods among different countries. The longevity of the extracts is prolonged by employing well-established preservation techniques, such as boiling and steaming, which involve the application of heat. Our study aimed to analyze and compare the phytochemical composition of raw and heat processed beetroot using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. In addition, the study aimed to assess the effectiveness of processed beetroot in protecting against cardiovascular complications in a rat model of obesity induced by high-fat diet (HFD). UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS phytochemical profiling revealed the presence of 51 compounds, including organic acids, flavonoids, phenolics, betanins, and saponins. All the extracts demonstrated a significant decline in MDA, TNF- α, and IL-6 levels, suppressed the TGF-β expression, and restored the serum catalase level to normal. Among all the tested extracts, the steamed extract exhibited the slightest percentage change in body weight (10.2 ± 6.4) and effectively lowered the TNF-α level to normal levels. In contrast, the normal histological structure of heart muscle fibers was notably preserved in the cardiac sections of rats pretreated with steamed and boiled beetroot extracts. Additionally, mild caspase-3 immunoreactivity was observed in the cardiac muscles. The current study demonstrated that the steamed beetroot extract showed improved cardioprotective properties compared to the fresh and boiled extracts.

Objects, affordances, and material histories in Roman Palestine: a case study on Northern Collar-Neck Lamps and their uses in early Jewish Sources

Abstract This article seeks to contribute to the growing scholarship on object-focused Roman histories by expanding the conversation to previously overlooked archaeological finds from Roman Palestine. This case study focuses on “Northern Collar-Neck Lamps,” which have been found throughout Roman Galilee and date to the first two centuries CE. I argue that their distinctive high collar, perhaps designed to reduce spillage, also served as an affordance that invited additional modes of interaction, namely placing a supplemental reservoir for oil – such as a pierced eggshell – over the filling hole. Once set up, this would allow for a slow drip of oil to prolong illumination time without human intervention. This usage is suggested from chronologically and geographically proximate sources, namely early rabbinic literature: Hebrew and Aramaic writings from the first centuries that reference physical details and uses of hundreds of objects and could prove helpful for future material histories of the Roman era.

Pergamos. An unexplored fortified site in north-eastern Greece

The aim of this article is to present the first results of a project investigating the hitherto unexplored site of Pergamos, located on a hill known as Koules/Alonaki just to the south of modern Moustheni in the Pieria valley. The site has a long history, with the earliest traces of human activity dating to the Late Bronze Age and the first visible architectural remains—impressive and well-preserved fortifications built in a stack-work technique—originating in the Late Archaic period. Following this, surface finds testify to activity and habitation throughout the centuries until a substantial strengthening of the defensive walls during Late Roman or medieval times, before the site was abandoned at a currently unknown point. To achieve the aim the article begins with an introduction to the site and its surrounding landscape. Following this, the results of a survey of the visible remains are presented, focusing on the fortifications and two architectural fragments. The site is then discussed within its spatial and chronological context, suggesting that Pergamos was an important settlement in the area, exhibiting traits of a polis, in particular during Archaic and Classical times before it fell within the sphere of influence of the Roman colony Philippi.

Taxonomic and metabolic characterisation of biofilms colonising Roman stuccoes at Baia’s thermal baths and restoration strategies

Stuccoes are very delicate decorative elements of Roman age. Very few of them survived almost intact to present days and, for this reason, they are of great interest to restorers and conservators. In this study, we combined metabarcoding and untargeted metabolomics to characterise the taxonomic and metabolic profiles of the microorganisms forming biofilms on the stuccoes located on the ceiling of the laconicum, a small thermal environment in the archaeological park of Baia (southern Italy). We found that some samples were dominated by bacteria while others by eukaryotes. Additionally, we observed high heterogeneity in the type and abundance of bacterial taxa, while the eukaryotic communities, except in one sample (at prevalence of fungi), were dominated by green algae. The metabolic profiles were comparable across samples, with lipids, lipid-like molecules and carbohydrates accounting for roughly the 50% of metabolites. In vitro and in vivo tests to remove biofilms on stuccoes using essential oils blends were successful at a 50% dilution for one hour and half. This integrative study advanced our knowledge on taxonomic and metabolic profiles of biofilms on ancient stuccoes and highlighted the potential impacts of these techniques in the field of cultural heritage conservation.

Kuracja bólu głowy, epilepsji, chorób oczu i uszu według Skryboniusza Largusa (I w.) "Compositiones medicamentorum" – przekład

Compositiones Medicamentorum by Scribonius Largus, dating from the 1st century, is one of the most important sources of the history of medicine. The recipes contained therein were used in European medicine until the end of the 17th century. The aim of this article is to present [translated from Latin] the methods of treating headache, epilepsy and diseases of the eyes and ears according to this ancient Roman physician.

Przedświt: fascynacja architekturą mykeńskiej i archaicznej Grecji w Niemczech schyłku XIX i początków XX wieku

At the beginning of the 20th century, German architecture saw a turn towards the art of antiquity, which was partly a reaction to the profusion of decoration in late historicism and Art Nouveau. However, the so-called Reformarchitektur was interested not only in classical antiquity (and the art of classicism and neoclassicism), but also in earlier periods, especially Mycenaean art. This was, of course, related to the discoveries in Troy, Mycenae and Tiryns, but the social and political context of the time was equally important. One of the foundations on which the national identity of the Germans in the 19th century was based was the myth of the ancient Germans, who were supposed to be characterized by courage, sincerity and natural morality. According to the creators of this idea (F. Avenarius, J. Langnehn, A. Haupt, G. Kossinna et al.), the Germans, next to the Greeks, were one of the original peoples of Europe (Urvolk), sharing ideas and artistic forms. In the north of the continent, they were allegedly preserved longer than in the Mediterranean area because the Nordic nations did not take part in the development of mimetic art. Consequently, it was believed that in the architecture of the Mycenaean period, as well as in buildings from the Homeric and archaic periods (as well as in Etruscan and ancient Roman buildings), we could find forms typical of the unpreserved Nordic architecture, destroyed in the process of Christianization. Therefore, Mycenaean and archaic architecture became the subject of interpretation in the spirit of nationalism, perceived, however, in a broader sense than just the framework of one nation. This was related to the category of “Nordic nations” as well as an even broader vision of the “primordial peoples of Europe”. These views and research became one of the inspirations for the architecture created at that time with reformatory, modernizing ambitions.

Old cities, new pathways: approaches to Roman urbanism in Italy

Throughout the twentieth century, considerable research has been dedicated to understanding the rise, development and end of ancient cities. In recent years, there has been a remarkable upsurge of new methodological and theoretical approaches applied in urbanism studies, which enables us to improve, validate or question our knowledge about ancient urban life. The three books reviewed here concern the development, transformation and experience of ancient Roman cities; leading experts in urban history and archaeology discussing the potential of new technologies and conceptual frameworks for analysing Roman urban space.

The features of the theoretical training of the ancient Roman military

The purpose of the article. To investigate the specifics of the training of senior officers of the Roman army in the Late Republican period and the Early Principate. To outline the peculiarities of the study of military theory by the senior command staff of the legion, as well as to prove the probability of the existence of specialized libraries among the Roman elite, which consisted of the works of Greek and Roman authors of the genre of military literature. Research methodology. The research methodology: comparative, analysis, synthesis and analytical analysis. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that the problem of military education in Ancient Rome was comprehensively investigated for the first time. In particular, the peculiarities of the study of the theory of military affairs not only by representatives of the highest military command — those from the nobility, but also by "new people" (homines novi) — representatives of the riding class (equites) are analyzed. Conclusions. It has been proven that the senior officers were not illiterate in military affairs and quite successfully coped with the assigned tasks — both in the administrative field and on the battlefield. It is also determined that the responsibilities of the senior officers of the Roman army, in particular military commanders, in addition to knowledge and skills in the field of military art, also included understanding the psychology of ordinary soldiers and the art of eloquence (rhetoric). The latter was acquired not so much from experience as from studying the works of Greek orators and philosophers.

Comprehensive characterization of waterlogged archaeological wood by NMR relaxometry, diffusometry, micro-imaging and cryoporometry.

Chemical, physical, and biological decay may partially or totally hide the historical and technological information carried by waterlogged wood. Investigation of the above-mentioned decay processes is essential to assess the wood preservation state, and it is important to find new methods for the consolidation and safeguarding of wooden archaeological heritage. A conventional method for assessing the wood preservation state is light microscopy. However, the method requires sample slicing, which is destructive and challenging when dealing with fragile and spongy submerged remains of heritage wood. To this end, a promising alternative non-destructive technique is proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) which considers wood as a porous system. This work aimed to perform a comprehensive analysis of structures, porosity, water distribution, decay, and possible structural inclusions of three archaeological waterlogged wood fragments of the Roman age using NMR relaxometry, micro-imaging (μ-MRI), NMR diffusometry, and NMR cryoporometry. The results were compared with a similar analysis of the three contemporary wood samples of the same species. The multimodal approach presented in this study allowed us to cover all the dimensional scales of wood, from nanometers to sub-millimeters, and reconstruct the alteration of the entire archaeological wood fragment caused by degradation.

Лепная посуда могильника Алмалык-Дере

The article describes the molded dishes of the burial ground of the 4th-7th centuries. AD Almalyk-dere, located in the South-Western Crimea. A comparative typological analysis of this group of archaeological finds, in general, demonstrates its general cultural unity with molded dishes from other Crimean burial grounds of the late Roman and early medieval times, with the presence of certain differences. Common features are manifested in the technique and technology of production of stucco products, as well as in the composition and structure of the ceramic complex, and differences are in the morphology and ornamentation of vessels. The study of Almalyk molded dishes allows us to say that the emergence of the burial ground is associated with the arrival of a group of new population in southwestern Taurica, consisting of the numerically predominant Alans, as well as Germans and, obviously, some part of the Bosporans and late Scythians.

Food and Environment During the Late Roman Age at the Site of Alba Fucens (Abruzzi, Italy)

Archaeobotanical analyses in Italy are uneven in terms of geographical and chronological distribution. Amongst the different regions, Abruzzi is poorly represented, with only one study covering the Roman Age. In this framework, the analyses carried out on carpological remains collected from the Late Roman (late 5th–early 6th century AD) filling of a well in the Sanctuary of Hercules in Alba Fucens represents an important addition to the state of the art. The plant assemblage consists of over 1500 remains attributed to 68 different taxa. These are partly represented by gathered fruit plants, such as Corylus avellana, Juglans regia and Sambucus nigra, while cereals and pulses are missing. An interesting aspect is represented by evergreen plants (Pinus pinea and Cupressus sempervirens) that are likely to have been used for ritual purposes rather than for human consumption. Finally, the impressive amount of ruderal and spontaneous plants represents a unicum for this type of study, allowing us to describe the past environment surrounding Alba Fucens, characterized by substantial water availability, Apennine grasslands and influenced by human presence.

A Cippus from Turris Libisonis: Evidence for the Use of Local Materials in Roman Painting on Stone in Northern Sardinia

The ancient Roman town of Turris Libisonis was located on the northern coast of Sardinia and was known in the past as an important naval port. Located in the Gulf of Asinara, it was a Roman colony from the 1st century BCE and became one of the richest towns on the island. Among the archaeological finds in the area, the cippus exhibited in the Antiquarium Turritano is of great interest for its well-preserved traces of polychromy. The artefact dates back to the early Imperial Age and could have had a funerary or votive function. The artefact was first examined using a portable and non-invasive protocol involving multi-band imaging (MBI), portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF), portable FT-IR in external reflectance mode (ER FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. After this initial examination, a few microfragments were collected and investigated by optical microscopy (OM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy in ATR mode (ATR FT-IR) and micro-ATR mode (μATR FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) to improve our knowledge and characterize the materials and to determine their provenience. The results contribute to a better understanding of the provenance of materials and shed light on pigments on stone and their use outside the Italian peninsula and, in particular, Roman Sardinia.

The Holocene evolution of the fluvial system of the southern Hessische Ried (Upper Rhine Graben, Germany) and its role for the use of the river Landgraben as a waterway during Roman times

Abstract. Intensive human intervention in the natural drainage system of the Hessische Ried (Upper Rhine Graben, Germany) resulted in the transformation of a large wetland into an intensively used cultural landscape. At least since the first century CE, when Romans conducted early river regulation and water management, the natural water network has experienced extensive anthropogenic re-organisation. The LandGraben project focuses on the reconstruction of the natural and anthropogenic watercourse systems along the river Landgraben, a tributary to the river Rhine in the northern Hessische Ried. Several rivers from the southern Hessische Ried could have fed the river Landgraben during Roman times via the meandering Palaeo-Neckar depression, thus increasing both length and discharge of the Roman waterway. In this study, we present results of our investigations within the southern Hessische Ried to reconstruct the former channel network that was used by Romans for the transportation of troops, wares and border security. Our approach integrates the use of high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) as a base for geophysical measurements (electrical resistivity tomography, ERT), direct push sensing and sediment coring in combination with sedimentological and geochemical analyses of the encountered sedimentary units. Local chronostratigraphies were established based on radiocarbon dating. Based on our results, we are able to differentiate a palimpsest of several abandoned fluvial channels throughout the southern Hessische Ried and to reconstruct the spatio-temporal development of the corresponding fluvial systems. Chronostratigraphic data show that the Palaeo-Neckar stopped flowing through the Hessische Ried around 10 000 cal BCE. Moreover, we found that the river Weschnitz, the largest of the possible Landgraben tributaries, stopped flowing through the Palaeo-Neckar depression at ca. 3000 cal BCE. Instead, it took a right-angled shortcut westwards to the river Rhine, north of the city of Lorsch. For the first time, we present geomorphological evidence that the river Weschnitz was not diverted by the Romans as speculated so far. This is corroborated by numerous wooden posts of human-made construction crossing an E–W running water course at the modern Weschnitz knee, with the oldest posts being dendrochronologically dated to the fourth and third millennia BCE. We further argue that the river Winkelbach/Lauter formed its knee towards the river Rhine and thus left the Palaeo-Neckar depression not later than the second century CE but most probably even contemporaneously with the formation of the Weschnitz diversion. In the case of the Winkelbach/Lauter, a high-energy flood event presumably related to strong rainfall and/or meltwater processes in the Odenwald Mountains is assumed to be responsible for the initiation of the new, diverted water course. With regard to the Landgraben and its use as a waterway within the Roman fluvioscape of the Hessische Ried, we therefore conclude that the Romans successfully collected water from several smaller rivers, such as from the rivers Modau and Darmbach and from even smaller tributaries, to make the river Landgraben a navigable waterway. The rivers Weschnitz and Winkelbach/Lauter, however, did not contribute any water to the Landgraben system during Roman times.

What Kind of Cognitive Technology Is the "Memory House"?

Ancient Roman "technical memory" is not (as much of the modern specialist literature would have it) a generative technology of association. Rather it is (as a literal reading of the texts would suggest) a specialized tool for precise serial recall. Modern experimental evidence both confirms the fitness for the purpose of the technique and shows why that purpose is not trivial, as some have suggested. While the mechanism(s) by which the technique operates are not fully understood, a review of the current literature suggests that it would have had the advantage over other mnemonic techniques by virtue of recruiting a variety of cognitive capacities. These likely include spatial/navigational mechanisms and possibly visual/imagery-based ones as well. Finally, small differences between the method as recorded in the ancient texts and similar methods that have been the subject of laboratory experiments are used to suggest possible directions for further experimentation.

Historical aspects of the use of goat’s milk as a food product for young children: a review

Goat milk (GM) has been a valuable food product for children and adults all over the world for thousands of years and has been used as an important element of healthy nutrition and healing. The article provides information confirming the importance of GM, which is described in the studies of ancient greek and roman scientists (Hippocrates, Galen), in traditional chinese and arabic medicine (the works of Li Shizheng and Avicenna). The works of domestic and foreign scientists also show the possibility of using GM not only as an alternative to breast milk, but also as a highly effective means for strengthening health. The functional composition of GM makes it possible to create mixtures as close as possible to breast milk, which can be used as a source of nutrition for children in the absence of breastfeeding.

The Fifth Milestation from Tiberias: A Newly Discovered Milestone in the Gennesaret Valley Illumines the Roman Arterial Network

ABSTRACT Through the prism of a fairly recent discovery of a milestone, the present article sheds light on the Roman road in the Gennesaret Valley, particularly the span connecting Tiberias to Julias. Building on Zvi Ilan's initiative in the 1980s, the author will emphasise two milestones: IMC 694 and IMC 847. Dating to 120 ce, the latter stone’s inscription not only divulges the role of Emperor Hadrian in the artery’s construction, but establishes Tiberias as its caput viae. By delving into historical sources, contemporary research, and the broader context of Hadrian's infrastructure initiatives throughout the province of Judaea, the paper explicates the road network’s purpose and strategic importance during the Roman era.

From Face to Facies

Abstract This article considers Beckett’s faces in the light of Giorgio Agamben’s account of the face as a disputed biopolitical marker. Agamben refers to the face both in terms of social and juridical identity in ancient Rome and as an icon of contemporary biopolitics, as social identity gives way to biometric recognition. Beckett’s own face figures prominently in the series of machine-generated Eigenface portraits created by artist Trevor Paglen in 2017, and whose use of the Eigenface method invokes modern facial recognition technologies. The Eigenface is examined here in relation to a gallery of ghostly progenitors: the faces of Beckett’s late plays.

Claim in a civil proceeding Ancient Rome

The author points out that the lawsuit, as a legal institution, has an extremely long history. Like most civil institutions, its origins are connected with the law of Ancient Rome. The article is devoted to the analysis of the institution of the claim in the law of Ancient Rome. It is argued that subjective material rights were perceived by Roman legislators, court officials and lawyers not from the point of view of their material content, but the ways of protecting these rights. Claims were not derived from subjective material rights, but, on the contrary, they could confirm their existence. Subjective material rights and their judicial implementation were considered as one whole, preventing the Romans from dividing the law into material and procedural law. It is indicated that the lawsuit did not act as a universal procedural tool that protected against all possible civil offenses. Roman law developed as a system of actions that provided protection in a situation where the few laws in the field of civil law were outdated and could not effectively provide protection to the individual. The peculiarity of the claim within three forms of civil process of Ancient Rome is revealed: legislative, formulary and extraordinary. In the period of the legislative civil process, the claim had to be presented to the court in such a way that it repeated the verbal norm of the law, which the person referred to in his case, otherwise he lost it. Quite often, the verbal voicing of one’s claims had to be accompanied by certain gestures literally to the norm of the law. At the time of the formal civil process, the plaintiff presented the claim to the court also orally, but without observing the claim formalism, which made it difficult to access the court. At that time, the praetors began to record the claim in writing in a special act-instructions, where the judge was given instructions on how to resolve the case. With the help of these acts, praetors could protect social relations not regulated by custom or law. The extraordinary civil process brought the institution of the lawsuit closer to its modern understanding: an oral, and then a written claim by the plaintiff to the defendant, which must be decided by the court. The lawsuit was considered as a posed question, to which the court decision should give an answer.