Leiden University Student Repository

Penders, Stefan (2012)

Imperial waters. Roman river god art in context.

Research master thesis | History: Societies and Institutions (research) (MA)

Beginning under the Flavian dynasty, large quantities of river personifications start to appear in Roman art and coinage, a trend which lasts until the third century A.D. These images are often regarded as little more than fashionable decorative items. This thesis argues however that, far from being merely decorative pieces, river personifications give us a unique insight in Roman ideas on geography, imperial power and civilization.

river god

river

Roman Empire

landscape

community

control over nature

geography

authority

personification

Author

Penders, Stefan

Note

Winnaar van de jaarlijkse scriptieprijs van het Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis (IISG) en de Volkskrant alsmede van de Fruinprijs van het Instituut voor Geschiedenis

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Ancient History (research)

Supervisors

Naerebout, Frits

ECTS Credits

40

Language

en