Roman Sicily Research Articles

I.Sicily as a Tool for the Study of Roman Sicily: An Experiment in Institutional Annotation

Study of Roman Sicily is well established and has a long tradition, with the two most authoritative and well-established epigraphic corpora –CIL X (1883) and IG XIV (1890)– dating to the late 19th century. While I.Sicily was conceived to offer easy and up-to-date access to the evergrowing but increasingly scattered epigraphic evidence of Sicily, its digital nature also enables the adoption of new approaches and the pursuit of novel research questions. The open-access dataset has recently been expanded to include institutional annotations, which hold great promise for research, particularly in fields that rely on extensive and detailed datasets, such as administrative and onomastic history (prosopographic annotation will follow). This paper aims to demonstrate both the potential and the limitations of a digitally annotated dataset as a tool for historical research, through a preliminary case study on the practice of dedications to the Roman emperor in Sicily. Recent scholarship suggests that provincial subjects also contributed to shaping the notion and the expectations around emperorship, which were not only imposed from above. The data-driven approach facilitated by an annotated corpus is well-suited to the new bottom-up perspective, but it is not without methodological pitfalls, which will be highlighted in this paper.

Initial investigations of rubricated inscriptions from Roman Sicily: Comparing the material evidence with ancient writers’ ideals

Although the polychromy of ancient statuary has become a regular topic in archaeological discussions, in part thanks to archaeometrical analyses, little attention has been given to such aspects in the field of epigraphy. The aim of this paper is to identify analytically the red pigments employed in inscriptions from southeastern Sicily in the Roman period (1st-6th c. CE), and to investigate the relationship between actual material practice and ancient terminology. Minimally invasive identification of cinnabar (mercuric sulphide) on some funerary and honorific inscriptions aligns with Pliny’s statement on the use of “minium”. However, other less expensive lead-containing pigments were detected, suggesting that different materials were used in different contexts and according to various practices. It appears from this preliminary study that choices of ancient red pigments can provide additional information for understanding epigraphic cultures.

Large Scale Slave Revolts in Ancient Greece: An Issue of Absence or an Absence of Issue

In the modern perception of the Ancient World the massive slave revolts loom largely. To the modern mind, infused, through education and mass media, with notions of sanctity of personal freedom and shamefulness of servitude, there is natural and immediate connection between the institution of slavery and armed, violent resistance to it. Ancient slaves were kept in obviously shameful and degrading state of bondage, therefore they revolted – they must have. In fact, however, large scale slave revolts are actually quite rare in world history and, in the case of Ancient Greece, all examples that one could point to are late and (at least superficially) marginal. If we limit our scope to Classical Greece (5th and 4th centuries BC), the slave revolt is virtually non-existent, unless we choose to widen the definition of slaves to include the helots of Sparta and the penests of Thessaly. This paper assumes that Messenian (helot) revolts are a separate (though perhaps related) phenomenon to slave revolts, and focus only on the latter. There are only three known cases of anything resembling a slave revolt (four, if we add the problematic case of the slave uprising of Drimacus, in the 3nd century BC Chios), and they seem rather minute in their scope and achievement, especially when compared to the contemporary massive slave wars of Roman Sicily and Italy. The paper argues that this absence is not an illusion, created, as one might argue, through a lack of interest or organized silence on the part of ancient authors, but the actual reflection of historical reality. Prospects of success for such endeavor were minimal, while the dangers involved were overwhelming. Specific conditions required for large scale slave uprisings were rarely met in Ancient Greece and consequently the phenomenon itself was rare.

Laura Pfuntner. Urbanism and Empire in Roman Sicily.

Laura Pfuntner. Urbanism and Empire in Roman Sicily.

Urbanism and Empire in Roman Sicily. By Laura Pfuntner. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2019. Pp. [viii] + 293.

Previous articleNext article No AccessBook ReviewsUrbanism and Empire in Roman Sicily. By Laura Pfuntner. Austin: University of Texas Press, 2019. Pp. [viii] + 293.Randall SouzaRandall SouzaSeattle University Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Classical Philology Volume 115, Number 4October 2020 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/709878 Views: 61Total views on this site HistoryPublished online August 17, 2020 For permission to reuse, please contact [email protected]PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

Laura PFUNTNER, Urbanism and Empire in Roman Sicily

Rezension zu: Laura Pfuntner, Urbanism and Empire in Roman Sicily. Austin: University of Texas Press 2019, 320 S.

Book Review of Urbanism and Empire in Roman Sicily, by Laura Pfuntner

Book Review of Urbanism and Empire in Roman Sicily, by Laura Pfuntner

From βαλανεῖα to thermae: unveiling the transition from Greek to Roman architectural models of baths by technological and provenance archaeometric studies on bricks and tiles

So far unexplored, the introduction and the spread of the Roman thermal buildings in the prima provincia (Sicily) are widely debated in the current archeological studies. Mainly due to the lack of systematic excavations and intensively technological studies, the assessment of thermae in the Hellenistic-Roman Sicily has been thus far interpreted as a new social and architectural experience. However, a more careful archeological investigation would suggest a gradual transformation of the architectural landscape from the purely Greek bath tradition to the canonical thermae types. The aim of this paper is therefore to study the classical hot bath culture and, in particular, the transition from Greek to Roman architectural models (from βαλανεῖα to thermae) by applying an archaeometric approach on brick and tile samples from three Sicilian archaeological sites - Solunto, Taormina, Tindari - recently proved to be among the first towns in Sicily in which Roman thermae were established in the Early Empire. Petrographic, mineralogical (XRD), micromorphological (SEM) and geochemical (XRF) analyses has been performed on a selection of bath building remains (comprising suspensurae, tiles, bricks) to explore technology and production issues. The obtained results allowed to identify local productions and to distinguish them from imports, redrawing some aspects of the historical, economic, social and technological construction context of Roman Sicily.

Weathering and deterioration of archeological glasses from late Roman Sicily

AbstractGlass is found at archeological excavations in a variety of conditions ranging from pristine—where no deterioration is visible—to very heavily degraded. Although the chemical processes of glass deterioration have been extensively studied, they are not yet entirely understood, due in part to the numerous factors that must be considered, from the composition of the glass paste and its manufacture to the type of soil in which the glass is buried. In this study, we analyze an assemblage of Late Roman glass from the catacombs of Saint Lucy in eastern Sicily, in order to study the effects of this particular hypogeal environment on glass. The study regards the correlation between the weathered glass surfaces and the compositional changes occurred in the samples. Close attention is paid to optical observations of the outer layers of the glasses as manifestations of chemical deterioration of the bulk. The chemical analysis of the fragments of glass was carried out nondestructively using PIXE‐PIGE analyses without any sample preparation. Weathering was observed with an optical microscope.

Best Practices for 3D Digital Recording and Global Sharing of Catacombs from Late Roman Sicily


 During the most recent excavations at the Catacombs of St. Lucy at Siracusa, carried out between 2013 and 2015, an array of 3D technologies were employed to record excavation data and provide new interpretative models for the site. The research focused on some very problematic parts of the Region C of the complex. Thisarea most effectively documents the long life of the Christian hypogeum, which incorporated previous structures and artefacts related to the Greek and Early Roman Imperial periods and continued to beused until the Middle Ages. During the exploration 3D digital techniques were used for the daily recording of the archaeological units, but also to create high-resolution virtual replicas of certain districts of the catacombs. Furthermore, the same techniques were applied to support the study of certain classes of materials, such as frescoes and marble architectural elementsthat couldnot otherwise be studieddue to the dark environment of the catacombs. The virtual archaeology research undertaken at the Catacombs of St. Lucy represents the first systematic application of 3D digital technologies tothe study of such a specialarchaeological context in Sicily, culminating in a work-plan for digital global dissemination.

Mixed-Media Domestic Ensembles in Roman Sicily: The House of Leda at Soluntum

Built in the second to early-first century BCE, the House of Leda at Soluntum, a city on the northwest coast of Sicily, was renovated in the first century CE. The most prominent change to the residence was the inclusion of figural Fourth-Style wall paintings in its dining room. The fresco ensemble reveals a particular interest in the painted depiction of stone, such as an image of Leda and the swan as a marble statue and trompe l’oeil blocks of colored marble and granite from around the Mediterranean. The house renovation was not wholesale since the owner also chose to preserve a number of decorative elements from the earlier, Hellenistic-era phase of the residence, including two sculptures, cut-limestone pavements, and an intricate mosaic of an astronomical instrument. In this article I argue that the tension created between the medium of paint, and its use to mimic marble and stone, resulted in a unified, mixed-media domestic ensemble. The viewer was encouraged to compare and contrast the faux marble and stone in the dining room’s Fourth-Style frescoes with the Hellenistic-era marble and stone artworks throughout the rest of the house. This juxtaposition of older and newer decorative elements reveals that the owner of the House of Leda positioned himself as both a member of the Roman provincial elite as well as a local benefactor and custodian of Sicily’s rich Hellenistic culture.

The Archaeology of Roman Sicily

The Archaeology of Roman Sicily

Cities and civic life in late Hellenistic Roman Sicily

Cet article propose une présentation générale et une réévaluation des sources sur les cités et la vie civique en Sicile, dans les deux derniers siècles avant notre ère : l’époque de la province romaine républicaine. L’étude s’ouvre par une brève critique de l’historiographie traditionnelle et de jugements contestables sur les statuts civiques, fondés en priorité sur les sources littéraires. Cette critique repose sur un appendice contenant une analyse détaillée d’un passage-clé de Cicéron (In Verrem 3.12-13). Cette première partie est suivie de trois sections synthétiques sur la vie institutionnelle des cités insulaires, sur la nature de leur constitution (de plus en plus timocratique, dominée par une élite étroite) et nos connaissances sur la monumentalisation urbaine. Ces éléments sont ensuite regroupés dans une discussion sur les comportements des élites siciliennes en contexte urbain et replacés dans un plus large contexte historique. Un thème transversal consiste à mesurer en quoi la Sicile romaine peut être utilement comprise par le biais de comparaisons avec la vie poliade de l’Orient tardo-hellénistique, bien que la précocité du gouvernement provincial romain modère l’intérêt de cette démarche, à plusieurs titres.

Tile-stamps of Philippianus in Late Roman Sicily: a talkingsignumor evidence for horse-raising?

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Rural settlement in Hellenistic and Roman Sicily: excavations at Campanaio (AG), 1994–8

L'INSEDIAMENTO RURALE NELLA SICILIA ROMANA ED ELLENISTICA: SCAVI A CAMPANAIO (AG), 1994–8Scavi all'insediamento rurale di Campanaio (3 ettari) hanno rivelato l'esistenza di sette principali fasi di occupazione dal c. 200 a.C. al periodo alto medievale. Un complesso di edifici ellenistici distribuiti in tre fasi successive è caratterizzato da muri a secco, pavimenti in battuto e sovrastrutture in mattoni di fango. Un contesto di scarico di rifiuti posto affianco agli edifici ha prodotto evidenza di contatti con la Cirenaica, la Grecia ed il nord Africa. Attività industriale risalente al 150 a.C. è attestata dalla presenza di una fornace da tegole e di cisterne, una delle quali provvista di un tubo di troppopieno composto di anfore puniche riutilizzate. Una più grande fornace da tegole fu aggiunta intorno al 125 a.C. Scarsa evidenza di occupazione alto imperiale è seguita da una rinnovata attività intorno al 375 d.C, la quale vide la costruzione di un emporio (con sedici anfore), un contenitore per la separazione dell'olio di oliva, una fornace da calce e altri nuovi edifici. In questa fase sono attestati la lavorazione del ferro, la possibile produzione di cuoio e la manifattura di tegole, mortaii e anfore Keay 52 (gli scarti vennero accumulati intorno al 400 d.C. nella fornace da calce andata in disuso). Una violenta distruzione intorno al 460 d.C. è possibile sia dovuta ad un attacco dei Vandali. L'esistenza di un insediamento arabo-normanno è suggerita da tre inumazioni poste sul fianco, che mostrano evidenza di malnutrizione, un tumore, mal di denti cronico, artrite e talassemia.

Campanaio—an agricultural settlement in Roman Sicily

Roman Sicily has long been known from classical sources for its agricultural fertility, but little archaeological research has been conducted on the rural economy. The Campanaio project is uncovering a wealth of information about a small (3 ha) hellenistic and Roman rural settlement and its economy, 25 km west of Agrigento. Excavations (1994-95,1997-98) have revealed seven principal phases. Activity started c. 200 BC, and was intensive for two centuries in the central part of the site. A complex of buildings underwent two complete reconstructions between 200 BC and AD 25; in its last phase (c. 50 BC) it comprised an Lshaped building some 17 m long and 8.40 m wide, with dry-stone walls, earth floors and mud-brick superstructure (FIGUR1E

A Rural Settlement of Imperial Roman and Byzantine Date in Contrada Saraceno near Agrigento, Sicily

A Rural Settlement of Imperial Roman and Byzantine Date in Contrada Saraceno near Agrigento, Sicily

<italic>An Economic Survey of Ancient Rome. Tenney Frank et al., eds. Volume III: Roman Britain,</italic> by R. G. C<sc>ollingwood</sc>; Roman Spain, by J. J. V<sc>an</sc> N<sc>ostrand</sc>; Roman Sicily, by V. M. S<sc>cramuzza</sc>; La Gaule Romaine, by A. G<sc>renier</sc>. (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press. 1937. Pp. 664. $4.00.)

An Economic Survey of Ancient Rome. Tenney Frank et al., eds. Volume III: Roman Britain, by R. G. Collingwood; Roman Spain, by J. J. Van Nostrand; Roman Sicily, by V. M. Scramuzza; La Gaule Romaine, by A. Grenier. (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press. 1937. Pp. 664. $4.00.) Get access An Economic Survey of Ancient Rome. Tenney Frank et al., eds. Volume III: Roman Britain, by Collingwood R. G.; Roman Spain, by Nostrand J. J. Van; Roman Sicily, by Scramuzza V. M.; La Gaule Romaine, by Grenier A.. (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press. 1937. Pp. 664. $4.00.) Louis C. West Louis C. West Cleveland Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar The American Historical Review, Volume 43, Issue 3, April 1938, Pages 580–582, https://doi.org/10.1086/ahr/43.3.580 Published: 01 April 1938

An Economic Survey of Ancient Rome, edited by Tenney Frank. Vol. iii: Roman Britain, by R. G. Collingwood; Roman Spain, by J. J. Van Nostrand; Roman Sicily, by V. M. Scramuzza; La Gaule romaine, by A. Grenier. Baltimore: John Hopkins Press, 1937. Pp. 664. 18s. 6d.

An Economic Survey of Ancient Rome, edited by Tenney Frank. Vol. iii: Roman Britain, by R. G. Collingwood; Roman Spain, by J. J. Van Nostrand; Roman Sicily, by V. M. Scramuzza; La Gaule romaine, by A. Grenier. Baltimore: John Hopkins Press, 1937. Pp. 664. 18s. 6d. - Volume 28 Issue 2