Roman Culture Research Articles

Πάντα ῥεῖ and Πόντος ῥεῖ – Strabo on the Black Sea

Building on Strabo’s references to the Black Sea in his Geography, this article examines the perceived changeability of this region as it is summed up in his work and mainly until Strabo's own age. These changes are considered through three spheres of reference: (1) Geographical – this section offers a discussion of the shape of the sea and its connection to the Mediterranean. The Black Sea was at times conceived as a gulf linked to the surrounding Ocean, at times – as a closed sea, and at times – as a gulf linked to the Mediterranean. All three ideas reflected changes in geographical knowledge and their reflection in Greek sources. (2) Cultural – this section deals with the ethnic character of habitation in the regions surrounding the Black Sea. The change in this sphere of discussion pertains to various ethnicities said to inhabit the region while reflecting in the Greek sources a gradual change from barbarism to Hellenic and then Roman cultures. (3) Conceptual – this section surveys the image of the Black Sea in Greek and Roman myth and literature. It shows how the concept of the region went from marginal to central to marginal again. This image originated in historical reality, but resulted in the unique interpretation of the geopolitical developments within myth and literature. On the whole, this article demonstrates how the Greeks and the Romans perceived the region as at once known and unknown, close and distant, and abandoned and settled. All these perceptions contributed to the dynamic image of this unique environment.

LA INFLUENCIA DE LAS COLONIAS DEL CARIBE SOBRE LA MODA FEMENINA EN EUROPA A FINALES DEL SIGLO XVIII Y PRINCIPIOS DEL XIX

Neoclassical fashion defined its diaphanous look by seeking to revive the style of the ancient Roman civilization, and the marble statues of ancient Greece; further influenced by the excavation of Pompeii in 1738 and its archeological developments in 1748. The attitudes towards voluminous and pompous fashions had changed, however the acceptance of the new modern and much more revealing silhouette did not occur without challenges. For neoclassical fashion to be accepted it needed a foundation to make it plausible, and it needed a pioneer to wear and deem it ‘appropriate’. This study builds a comprehensive analysis of some of the relationships France, England and other European countries built with their colonies in terms of textile manufacturing, imports and exports, and most importantly cultural appropriation. This study seeks to analyze how those colonies gave them new fashion perspectives, to develop the neoclassical fashions, we recognize from that period. In addition, this study will analyze the powerful influence of Josephine Bonaparte and other important female figures from neoclassical France, in perpetuating and expanding the use of these fabrics and styles; most importantly Josephine’s Caribbean background and her possible preference for lighter fabrics due to her birth on the island of Martinique, and how that influenced her sophisticated and cosmopolitan approach to fashion.

Institutiile culturale si artistice timisorene in “epoca” autofinantarii (1984–1989)

The economic crisis in Romania, in 1984–1989, deeply touched the Romanian culture too, the Communist authorities requiering the cultural and artistic institutions a policy of austerity, once with the Decree 476/ 1983. Given the continuous reducing of the statal allocations, the theatres, philarmonic orhestras, opera houses, museums, etc. needed to find outliving solutions. In Timişoara, The National Theatre, German Public Theatre, Magyar Public Theatre, Puppet Theatre, and Romanian Opera House, or the Philarmonic Public Orchestra “Banatul” went over a difficult period while the Banat Museum had a better financial situation. Those above were obliged to increase the number of their shows, to present them in industrial units, rural localities, schools, faculties or stadiums and sports halls, as well as to organize gambles, to collect scrap iron, etc., some of those works being degrading for the actors and artistis in Timişoara. In spite of all their efforts, they couldn’t materialize such unrealistic plans, and so the artistic staff were diminished or delayed payed. The financial crisis also touched the quality of performances, the amounts to staging having been reduced. The three theters and the Opera House also had not enough money for wardrobe or, in the case of the National Theatre, to set the necessary reparations of the building. The gas or electricity using restrictions made some shows being adjorned and the audience decreasing. Despite all those great straitened circumstances, the actors and artistis in Timişoara, with their professional devotion, succeeded to offer shows of a high quality and keep so the prestige of thier institutions.

Carti romanesti vechi din secolul al XVIII-lea in colectiile Bibliotecii Academiei de stiinte a Ungariei

This article aims to evaluate the copies of 18th century old Romanian books preserved in the collections of the Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest. A number of 12 volumes, printed in printing centres such as Blaj, Sibiu, Cluj, Vienna, Frankfurt, Leipzig or Hamburg, were identified. The works researched cover fields such as history, geography, theology and philology, and the authors include personalities of Romanian culture such as Dimitrie Cantemir and Gheorghe Șincai.

Teaching Difficult Stories: Trauma-Informed Teaching in the Classics Classroom

AbstractEvery textbook has its strengths, and each its own quirks and idiosyncrasies. Apart from any pedagogical concerns about the old Cambridge Latin Course textbook series, for example, was the question of how it represented problematic aspects of the ancient world, such as the role of women and the institution of slavery (see Hunt, 2016). The de Romanis Latin course (Radice et al., 2020a and 2020b), which we use at my school at Key Stage 3, takes a much more detached approach to the teaching of Roman culture, presenting its reading exercises as individual stories grouped around each chapter's centralised theme rather than as a narrative told from the perspective of one group of fictionalised characters. But difficult subjects still arise and need to be handled sensitively by the teacher – particularly given the age group (11–14) the textbook is aimed at. This paper shows one way in which this might be achieved.

Amicus Brief.

Amicus Brief Martha C. Nussbaum ii. summary of the argument This brief argues that the law requires reformation to protect our modern scientific and philosophical understanding that many animals can live their own meaningful lives and that the Court should reform the law in this case.1 Modern science demonstrates that elephants are complex beings that can form a conception of the self, as observed by Judge Fahey, form strong social and emotional bonds among themselves and others, and that the Zoo's conduct harms Happy in both physical and intangible ways. Furthermore, this brief argues that the lower courts in Lavery I and II applied the wrong philosophical framework to the question of whether certain non-human animals should be considered legal persons. Instead of animal rights being based on the capacity to engage in a social contract and to bear legal duties, the proper framework for animal rights is the capabilities approach, which asks how the law can help animals like Happy not only live but thrive. Accordingly, this brief explains the importance of this appeal, the Court's opportunity to reform [End Page 15] the field of animal law, and the potential to release Happy from a life of captivity, ensuring she lives the rest of her life in a manner that respects her capabilities. iii. argument 1. This Case Matters Because It Is Time to Reform the Law to Protect Our Modern Scientific and Philosophical Understanding That Many Animals Are Capable of Living Their Own Meaningful Lives Modern science now recognizes a very important fact about many animals, including elephants. They are not merely biological units that simply need food and a suitable environment to survive and maintain a viable population. Today, scientists view many animals as beings capable of living their own meaningful lives. Early Indian and Roman cultures understood the complexity of animal lives and the implications of this complexity surrounding the humane treatment of animals; public awareness of this fact is widespread today. Almost all ancient Greek and Roman philosophical schools attributed complex forms of cognition and numerous emotions to animals,2 a precursor to our current laws against cruel practices to animals. What philosophy and, more recently, science have understood but the law has not, is that elephants are sentient beings who can feel emotion, foster relationships, create communities, and form a conception of the self. Our current legal system fails to respect species-specific, central capabilities. Although each of the fifty states has animal cruelty laws,3 these laws protect only a small number of animals and fail to constrain, to any meaningful extent, the widespread infliction of suffering. They ban only the intentional, purposeful suffering of some animals, and fail to recognize the impact that captivity, lack of relationships, and solitude cause a creature like Happy. This Court has the opportunity to create legal precedent that provides these living creatures the legal right to thrive and survive in ways that coincide with their specific capabilities, and prevent not only the infliction of physical pain, but emotional and psychological injury as well. 2. The Magical Lives of Elephants Elephants are cognitive, complex creatures with distinct societies, emotions, and lives. They form societies that foster the wellbeing of each member, in which their emotions and development from childhood through adulthood are readily apparent.4 A combat staged between humans and elephants in 55 B.C. by the Roman leader Pompey paints a prime example of these complex emotions and connections with other animals, namely humans. Surrounded in the arena, the elephants perceived that they had no hope of escape. According to Pliny, the elephants then "entreated the crowd, trying to win its compassion with indescribable [End Page 16] gestures, bewailing their plight with a sort of lamentation."5 The audience, moved to pity and anger by their plight, rose to curse Pompey—feeling, wrote Cicero, that the elephants had a relation of commonality (societas) with humans.6 However, this connection with humans cannot be substituted for true, similar companionship from other elephants, which Happy has lacked for almost two decades. Elephants' ability to connect with other elephants and animals may be attributable to their long life spans; they are the most...

Orientalism and the Eastern European Periphery

This paper starts by discussing the specific use of Orientalism in the Romanian culture. Focus is laid upon the Romanian scholar Dimitrie Cantemir (1673-1723), the first Christian historian who was allowed to use the Ottoman archives for his work. Then Ienăchiţă Văcărescu or Kelemen Mikes offer alternative Orientalist discourses. Unfortunately, Said’s seminal essay neglects everything that is East of Vienna in terms of Orientalism. Criticizing the binary opposition West-Orient, in fact Said reiterates it in his work by neglecting the Eastern European periphery. The conclusion is that Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) offers interesting examples of Orientalisms where the power relationships are constructed differently.

Gabriella Gelardini. Deciphering the Worlds of Hebrews: Collected Essays

Gabriella Gelardini. <i>Deciphering the Worlds of Hebrews: Collected Essays</i>

The Miracle of Arabic Language: From Pre-Islamic To Islamization

Language contributes greatly to human civilization. Among the world's major languages ​​spoken by mankind is Arabic. Arabic influences many aspects of life, such as Roman civilization in many fields, even music and poetry. Jahiliyyah Arabic only serves as a literary language. But when Islam came, Arabic underwent a very significant development, becoming the language of science. This is what is meant by the process of Islamization. This study aims to explain the influence of Islam on Arabic. Therefore, through this paper it can be concluded that even though there are several Arabic terms that are the same as those used during the Jahiliyyah and the advent of Islam, basically they have different meanings and emphasis. Islam came to have an influence in facilitating the pronunciation of Arabic terms which were previously complicated or even providing new Arabic vocabulary that was not known during the Jahiliyya period.

Revisiting Sinai Covenant Theology, Its Values and Resonances for Today

The relevance of Sinai covenant (Exod 19-24, 32-34; Deut, Josh-2kings) in Hebrew and Christian religions cannot be overemphasized. It is a point of departure for understanding Israel’s basic religion and its components: God’s relationship with his people, the kingship of God, revelation and liberation from myth. It also illumines the riches of Israel’s history, its persons, liturgy, rituals, cults and commandments, the role of the prophets, fulfilled in Christ, the Messiah stressed by our honoree in the course of his ministries. Many would see it as a conditional and relational covenant binding both God and his people. Its meaning, nature, and patterns as discussed historically, pastorally and contextually in this essay, went through various roots of nuances and shifts in the ancient Near East, Hebrew, Greek and Roman cultures, including commitment, faithfulness, resilience, and obedience, trust in divine providence and sharing together. Finally, its relevance, NT resonances and theological importance of Sinai Covenant for the church in African and beyond are highlighted.

Early Latin Loan-Words in Modern Ukrainian and the Question of Toponymic Replications

An in-depth analysis of two distinct linguistic elements (lexical and toponymic) of Latin origin in the modern Ukrainian language adds some important elements to the study of the direct contacts of proto-Slavic populations and cultures with Roman civilisation in the early centuries of the first millennium. The paper examines ancient Latin loanwords in modern Ukrainian, in comparison with other Slavic languages and focuses on the question of Roman influences on the toponymy of Ukraine. Considering the difficulties linked to the temporal distance and the genetic diversity between late Latin and modern Ukrainian, these linguistic phenomena are correlated with historical, archaeological, numismatic data (as materially attested), in order to frame the linguistic question in the respective historical context, and at the same time to highlight the lexical connections and cultural continuity with the late Latin period.

A Book for the King. Some Reflections on the Situation of the Roman Population and the Preservation of the Heritage of Ancient Civilization in Gallaecia and Lusitania in the 5th and 6th Centuries

Saint Martin of Braga, active in Gallaecia in the second half of the 6th century, referred to cardinal virtues in several of his writings, in accordance with the teachings of Seneca that he knew well. One of these works was Formula vitae honestae, given to Miro, king of Suebi and Gallaecia. The existence of Roman and “barbarian” elites in the kingdom of Suebi, capable of understanding the moral teachings of St. Martin of Braga in the 6th century, prompts reflection on the continuity of Roman culture and heritage of ancient civilisation in 160 years after the invasion of Hispania by Germanic tribes. The article contains some remarks on the preservation of Roman civilisation among the Roman elites in the times of the existence and development of the kingdom of Suebi , and on the processes of romanization of the tribal elites. The problem of the assimilation of the local population and Germanic newcomers, which was very interesting and specific to Gallaecia under the reign of Suebi, was also discussed.

Iraclie Porumbescu - ctitor de cultură și spiritualitate bucovineană

The following study highlights the personality of Iraclie Porumbescu (1823–1896), an emblematic figure in the history of Bukovina. He was a scholar and a priest and his name is related to old settlements with historical significance such as Sucevița or Putna, but also to certain prolific moments of the social and cultural life of Bukovina. On August 15, 1871, together with his son, the regretted composer Ciprian Porumbescu, he was enthusiastically taking part in the Celebration of the Romanian students in the country and abroad organized at the Putna Monastery. Iraclie Porumbescu is also considered to be Bukovinaʼs first modern prose writer. He was often compared to the renowned storyteller Ion Creangă, whose Childhood Memories are an important source of information regarding the old life and customs of the people who once lived in Bukovina. Thus, we will briefly layout a few biographical references of this priest who lived in Bukovina, insisting on the Romanian roots of the Porumbescu family, on the solid intellectual training which, in spite of the hardships of those times, Iraclie got since childhood, being initiated in the art of writing by Ghenadie Platenchi, the abbot of the Sucevița Monastery. It is worth mentioning that the scarce financial resources did not impede young Iraclie to deepen his intellectual knowledge, attending the courses of schools such as those in Karlsberg (Gura-Putnei), Suceava, Chernivtsi or Lemberg. Since his training years, he proved ambitious, hard-working and eager to defend the moral, spiritual and patriotic values of his ancestors. On the other hand, we cannot overlook his priestly service entrusted to him by God, a service which Iraclie fulfilled with dignity and responsibility in spite of the turmoil of the century, for 46 years (1850–1896), worthily preaching in villages such as Șipotele Sucevei, Boian, Stupca or Frătăuții Noi. As a priest, he actively involved in the social, political and especially cultural life of those times. An important aspect we would like to emphasize in our paper is the cultural side which the scholar priest vividly approached all his life. The literary works, which outlived him, present him as a genuine scholar and a leading nationalist of Bukovina. His literary works made him stand out even during his lifetime. In 1848, he wrote poems such as „Cântecul lui Iancu”, „Fata de Roman”, „Ieremia Moghilă și Săhastrul” and others. He collaborated with various newspapers of the time („Bucovina”, „Albina”, „Românul”, „Telegraful”), even being the secretary of „Bucovina”, the well-known cultural magazine, which appeared under the sponsorship of the Hurmuzachi family. The articles are full of profound patriotic accents, meant to strengthen the national consciousness of Bukovina, pleading for values such as identity and faith. In support of this description, Paul Leu, a famous biographer of the Porumbescu family, describes Iraclie as the one who „advocated, in his poetry and prose, for the revival of the national consciousness and of the ancient virtues, praising events, facts and personalities that made themselves conspicuous through time or during his lifetime”. The image of the scholar is closely related to his friendship with various men of culture of his time: Eudoxiu and Alecu Hurmuzachi, Aron Pumnul, Vasile Alecsandri, Constantin Morariu and others. Iraclieʼs texts, which remind us of these coryphaei of the Romanian culture, stand for the importance of this man, for whom the love for his native language and people represented a sacred duty. All the above aspects show that Iraclie Porumbescu, the scholar priest, was a true founder of culture and spirituality in Bukovina, making him stand out as a dignified and worthy example for posterity.

Snuggling with your identity: beds and the sense of touch in Roman culture

AbstractThis article seeks to find attitudes and judgments elite Romans made based on a person’s bed. It culls written sources from a diverse range of genres to argue that elite Roman men saw beds as transformative and reflective items. Through long-lasting and frequent contact, a bed’s qualities seeped into bodies and characters. Consequently, as a powerful part of the built environment, beds could strengthen or weaken soldiers as well as help or harm a person’s health. Furthermore, beds’ transformative power meant elite Romans thought where a man slept revealed who he was: his social status, moral fiber, and civilization. In short, beds marked a person’s identity. Examining how Roman elites conceptualized beds informs us on the larger issue of the history of the body, in general, and the sense of touch, in particular. Scholarship on the history of touch tends not analyze the effects of sustained and repetitive contact with a mundane object.

Technical and Economic Analysis of Georgian Railway

Georgia is a small state with the small territory and the small population, but the shortest road connecting Europe and Asia passes through its territory, which has been properly used since time immemorial, even from the Hellenic and Roman civilizations. Even when Georgia was advanced economically and politically in the Middle Ages and even when Georgia was part of the Russian Empire. It is used even today - even after gaining independence, but it seems to be insufficient. As a result, the share of transport in the GDP of Georgia is modest, and this is also against the background of a poor economy, while this branch of the economy can bring tangible results, especially if we take into account the status of the country as a maritime country, which many countries in the world do not have the luxury of. Today, the implementation strategy of railway transport development is focused on the development of investment-innovation projects of the country's economy. Priority is given to scientific-technological directions that should expand the use of advanced inventions in railway transport and increase the competitiveness of Georgian transport services in the world market. For the issue of economic evaluation of engineering solutions, one of the main components of the engineering process is the determination of the economic feasibility of engineering solutions. Any event and action in business will lose its meaning if it does not give an economic effect. Therefore, the practical implementation of each solution should be justified economically, that is, the expected financial results that can be obtained by implementing these measures should be calculated in advance. Keywords: Management, transport, railway transport, competitiveness.

« Le goût des arts étrangers » et « les esprits nouveaux » dans la culture roumaine du XIXe siècle

At a time when European cultures, considered as elitist, “lived” their full development, the Romanian culture, more modest, tried to “find its way” according to foreign influences, according to political influences. Little by little new spirits began to make themselves known in the Romanian provinces and the arts from abroad proved to be the basis for the renewal of Romanian culture, which still kept the traditional native models and found it difficult to give up legacy of old values. The political, cultural and literary lives directly received European influences adapted to the Romanian realities which were at the beginning of their particular mutations. The literary creative act began to follow models and influences of the first rank, renowned at European level. In this context, our study is based on an analysis of the opinions and informed voices of the time, which declared themselves openly pro or against foreign influences.

Multilayer Technology of Decorated Plasters from the domus of Marcus Vipsanus Primigenius at Abellinum (Campania Region, Southern Italy): An Analytical Approach

Situated on the left bank of the Sabato river, the city of Abellinum (Campania region, southern Italy) represents a tangible testimony to the influence of the Roman civilization in Irpinia. At the site, where the remains of the public area of the town are preserved, archaeological excavations unearthed a monumental Pompeian domus, likely owned by Marcus Vipsanius Primigenius, a freedman of Agrippa, son-in-law of Augustus. The rooms preserved fine wall paintings of 3rd and 4th Pompeian style, reflecting the social status of the owner. From four rooms overlooking the peristyle, eight specimens of decorated plasters were collected, and petrographic and spectroscopic analyses were carried out to investigate the plastering and painting technology. Thin sections of all plasters depicted a multilayer technology, although differences in mix designs of the supports were highlighted. Some samples are pozzolanic plasters, containing volcanic aggregate, others can be classified as cocciopesto because of the presence of ceramic fragments mixed to the volcanic aggregate. Finally, the presence of marble powder also permitted the identification of marmorino. Moreover, the pigments, applied using a fresco or lime-painting techniques, consist of pure or mixed Fe- and Cu-based pigments to obtain yellow, orange, red, pink, and blue decorations.

Zwammerdam on the Rhine: The contribution of archaeozoological research to the current knowledge of Roman Nigrum Pullum

The Dutch Roman frontier is known for providing a great deal of archaeozoological research, but the real potential has not been reached yet as there are data from many excavated sites that have still not been analysed in detail or are ́buried́ as grey literature. The research project Romeinse vicus aan de Rijn aims at filling this gap through the study and publication of Roman military vici along the Dutch part of the Rhine to better understand the development and significance of these key locations. Within this frame, archaeozoological remains from various sites are being re-analysed in order to reinforce the knowledge of economic and cultural patterns, to better understand supply networks and to study how these activities shaped the surrounding environment and impacted the landscape.One of the studied sites is the Roman fort and vicus of Zwammerdam-Nigrum Pullum, located on the Rhine in the West Netherlands. Archaeozoological remains were collected during excavations in 1968–1971 and in 2003–2004, but some of the material was not studied, and a thorough synthesis was still missing. Because of this, certain aspects within this Roman settlement remain poorly analysed.With a thorough analysis of the archaeozoological remains from both excavations at Zwammerdam, integrated with contextual and chronological data, this study brings forward new archaeozoological information for this Roman settlement. The new data not only make it possible to compare animal exploitation in the vicus with that of the fort, but it also provides an opportunity to analyse these patterns throughout time both locally and regionally. While limited to a small area in the Roman Empire, the data from Zwammerdam can provide a further step for new, broader archaeozoological research towards the role of animals in the Roman culture and economy.

Cultivating Peace: The Virgilian Georgic in English, 1650–1750

Cultivating Peace: The Virgilian Georgic in English, 1650–1750

A Succession of Coinages in the Balkans: Imitation Roman Republican Denarii Overstruck on Drachms of Apollonia and Dyrrhachium

Dyrrhachium and Apollonia issued extensive series of drachms at a weight of about 3.30-3.40 g, and a diameter of 16-18 mm, from the third century BC until well into the first century BC. These drachms depict on the obverse a cow and calf along with a magistrate’s name in the nominative case and on the reverse a double stellate pattern, abbreviated city ethnic, and a second magistrate’s name in the genitive case. The date of the first issues of the Dyrrhachium and Apollonia drachms remains a matter of debate. It was long assumed that Dyrrhachium issues began in 229 BC when Rome effectively established domination over the region. Now some maintain a date as early as 270 BC for the first cow and calf drachms struck by Dyrrhachium while others argue for a much later date at or around 208 BC. It is generally acknowledged that Dyrrhachium began to strike drachms several decades earlier than Apollonia. The date of the end of the coinage is also a matter of debate, estimates varying from circa 60/55 BC to 30 BC. The most likely date is 48/7 BC during the Roman civil war. Julius Caesar occupied Apollonia, and subsequently he and Augustus favored the city. Pompey used Dyrrhachium as his base, and the city never after issued coins.