This thesis provides a comparative study of the architecture of the temple of Hera I at Paestum. The Greek Doric temple is first compared to a Roman Basilica. This comparison provides the evidence...Show moreThis thesis provides a comparative study of the architecture of the temple of Hera I at Paestum. The Greek Doric temple is first compared to a Roman Basilica. This comparison provides the evidence that there is no empirical reason to interpret the temple of Hera I as a basilica. A second and third comparison of the temple are made with the Hephaisteion in Athens, Hellas and the temple of Hera II at Paestum in Magna Graecia. Although the temple of Hera I shares similarities with both traditional Greek Doric temples of Hellas and typical West Greek temples of Magna Graecia, the temple of Hera I seems to differ from both type of temples a lot in the architectural plan. This thesis provides an in-depth overview of the architectural structures of the temple of Hera I to show that the temple is unique. With this information as a solid basis, future research can focus on functionality, the amount of experimentation used to build the temple and the effect of its unique character.Show less
According to myth Demeter was a daughter of the Titans Kronos and Rhea. This parentage made her sister to Zeus, with whom she had a daughter known by the name of Persephone. Being part of the...Show moreAccording to myth Demeter was a daughter of the Titans Kronos and Rhea. This parentage made her sister to Zeus, with whom she had a daughter known by the name of Persephone. Being part of the Olympian deities, Demeter fulfilled a significant role within the pantheon of a great many Greek poleis. During the seventh century BC she received a cult place on the acropolis of Kórinthos, which she shared with the divinities Persephone and Dionysos, for she was associated with them in cult. Spread over three terraces, the sanctuary accommodated dining rooms, a courtyard, and a theatrical area. This place became the focus of Demeter’s Korinthian public cult. The sanctuary was visited during a variety of festivities, including agricultural festivals and initiations within a local mystery cult. Amongst these celebrations some were only to be attended by women. Venerators would grant many votives to the goddess, including, but not limited to, terracotta figurines, wine-and water utensils, and offering trays. Most of these dedications were set in the context of fertility, which was considered Demeter’s very core, and therefore the base of her elements concerning agriculture, chthonic, and female identity. Demeter was venerated in the Magna Graecia as well. During the mid-sixth century BC several sanctuaries were erected at the Sicilian Greek polis Akrágas, of which one was provided with monumentalised architecture. Sharing worship with Persephone, who was assigned primary significance within mystery cults and female identity, Demeter’s core element was limited to earthly fecundity. This is reflected by most of the votive material she received, for the objects mainly concerned eating- and drinking vessels and terracottas. Within Korinthian cult Demeter was deemed to provide earthly fertility and the knowledge of the cultivation of grain. Additionally, her association with female identity connected her to fecundity of women, which was necessary for securing the existence of the following generations. Therefore, Demeter was considered partly responsible for the very survival of the polis. However, in Akrágas she was merely honoured as an agricultural deity, for her other elements were assigned to Persephone, thus decreasing Demeter’s social significance within society.Show less
In 2009 the news reported about a discovery of a large Roman denarius hoard in Anloo, Drenthe. Such a discovery is remarkable in an area which has never been Roman territory, but it is not unique....Show moreIn 2009 the news reported about a discovery of a large Roman denarius hoard in Anloo, Drenthe. Such a discovery is remarkable in an area which has never been Roman territory, but it is not unique. More denarius hoards have been found in Germania Libera and they mainly date to the end of the second and the beginning of the third century AD. This phenomenon is also known as the ‘Severan hoard horizon’, which is the subject of this study. The recent definition and theories concerning this subject have turned out to be insufficient, studying the hoard of Anloo and several other ones. Firstly, several hoards have been identified as Severan, whereas they do not completely meet the established definition. Secondly, the theories explaining the phenomenon lack both an interpretation from a Germanic perspective and an interpretation of the deposition process. This study is focused on the individual hoards and includes an extended research into the contexts of the hoards and their distribution pattern. This has resulted in a more complete and more convenient method and theory to examine Severan hoards and these can both be used as a framework for future research.Show less
Het succes van ARS aardewerk op de mediterrane markten is niet alleen ontstaan door een bepaald gegeven of kenmerk. Belangrijk voor de export ARS aardewerk was de export van graan en olijfolie. Het...Show moreHet succes van ARS aardewerk op de mediterrane markten is niet alleen ontstaan door een bepaald gegeven of kenmerk. Belangrijk voor de export ARS aardewerk was de export van graan en olijfolie. Het opbloeien van de Tunesische economie is grotendeels te danken aan de Romeinse annona. De annona was in eerste instantie de graanvoorraad van Rome. Onder keizer Severus werden andere producten toegevoegd aan de annona zoals olijfolie. Graan en olijfolie waren de twee belangrijkste exportproducten van Tunesië. De bevoorrading van de annona zorgde voor een bloeiende Tunesische economie. De hoge productiviteit in graan en olijfolie is te danken aan de landschapsindeling en de Romeinse villa’s die aanwezig waren. Dit waren gunstige omstandigheden voor de productie en export van ARS aardewerk. ARS aardewerk maakte gebruik van de al bestaande handelscontacten, afzetmarkt en schepen. Ondanks dat ARS aardewerk een belangrijke speler was op de aardewerkmarkt, lag de nadruk op de export van graan en olijfolie. De productietechnieken en vormen van het ARS aardewerk werden gespecialiseerd op de export. De brede schalen met een lage voet waren uitstekend gevormd voor de export. Het gebruik van mallen was waarschijnlijk nodig voor de productie van deze schalen. De mallen zorgde ook voor een versimpeling van het productieproces. Er zijn ook tekenen dat de handelaren zich op de export gingen richten. Zo is er van de pottenbakkerssite gelegen bij El Mahrine veel meer aardewerk in de Spaanse zuidoostkust gevonden dan in Carthago. Het succes van ARS aardewerk is dus het gevolg van het succes van andere producten en de ontwikkelingen van het aardewerk zelf.Show less
This thesis tries to answer questions about aegyptiaca at certain Greek sanctuaries in the Archaic period. We hope to shed light on aspects of Greek-Egyptian contact and exchange, as well as the...Show moreThis thesis tries to answer questions about aegyptiaca at certain Greek sanctuaries in the Archaic period. We hope to shed light on aspects of Greek-Egyptian contact and exchange, as well as the Greek perception of ‘Egyptian’, and Greek religious practice. As background are discussed the theories behind material culture studies, the general history of Greek-Egyptian contact, the Greek view on Egypt as discussed by Herodotus, and the nature of Greek sanctuaries and votive dedications. Then, a closer look is taken at certain sanctuaries: Samos, Ephesus, Perachora, Artemis Orthia, Delphi and Olympia. The aegyptiaca at these sites are discussed. Based on these data alone a conclusive answer to our question cannot be found. However, it becomes clear that these items were part of a complex and wide exchange system, rather than the result of direct contact between Archaic Greece and Egypt.Show less
This thesis aims to discuss the role of different entrances leading to the Palatine hill during the reign of emperor Septimius Severus and the Severan Period. As the palace itself occupied most of...Show moreThis thesis aims to discuss the role of different entrances leading to the Palatine hill during the reign of emperor Septimius Severus and the Severan Period. As the palace itself occupied most of the Palatine, the entrances that lead up the Palatine hill can be seen as the entrances into the palace itself. This thesis will give a short and general outline on the Palatine hill and the Imperial palace, will look at the life of emperor Septimius Severus, his rise to power and the following building plan for the city of Rome, including the construction of one of the entrances, the Septizodium. The two other entrances that are discussed are the Domus Gai, a palace build by emperor Caligula and the Clivus Palatinus, an ascending street leading up the Palatine Hill. The role of the entrances towards the Imperial palace will be analyzed with the help of Space Syntax and by examining the various parts of the surrounding areas of the Palatine hill, where these entrances lead, which are the Forum Romanum, the Via Sacra area and the cross point of various roads that lead into the city of Rome and the connection with the different roles these areas have with the entrances will be investigated. The gathered information is used to answer the question what the role of the three entrances were that lead to the Imperial palace on the Palatine during the reign of emperor Septimius Severus in the Severan Period.Show less
This thesis is a literature study on the sheep bearer, this image of a man carrying a sheep is used in both baptismal and funerary contexts. This theme is often used in both Roman and Christian...Show moreThis thesis is a literature study on the sheep bearer, this image of a man carrying a sheep is used in both baptismal and funerary contexts. This theme is often used in both Roman and Christian contexts, this thesis aims to explain the meaning and popularity. Written sources and material culture are used as examples.Show less
The focus of the thesis is to research what kind of influence the debate on the value of pottery versus metal from the 1980s has had on our current view of Greek archaeology, its material culture...Show moreThe focus of the thesis is to research what kind of influence the debate on the value of pottery versus metal from the 1980s has had on our current view of Greek archaeology, its material culture and how this is presented to the public in museums. By reviewing literature from the last three decades, an overview is given of what different scholars’ opinions are and where this debate is standing now. A summary of the thesis of Vladimir Stissi will provide answers and arguments for most of the statements used in the discussion. He offers a possible solutions for the problem of the value of pottery, calling figure decorated wares a semi-luxury. Finally, a small research is done, analyzing the Greek collections of six museums to find out how ceramic vases are displayed. Most objects are arranged chronologically and themes being told by depictions on vases. Metal or plain examples are absent in most museum, due to the fact that these items were difficult to collect in the earlier days or were not considered valuable or pretty. Museums play a large part in how the public sees the ancient Greek culture. Displaying different sorts of material, connecting them and making more use of texts, will change the way how ancient times were considered by the present public.Show less
In this thesis, 19 strigils found on the Kops-Plateau in Nijmegen will be described and analyzed. A catalogue of the finds and distribution maps are to be found in the file. The strigils are...Show moreIn this thesis, 19 strigils found on the Kops-Plateau in Nijmegen will be described and analyzed. A catalogue of the finds and distribution maps are to be found in the file. The strigils are analized by means of looking at their context, distribution, and physical characteristics. A general introduction into the artefact is given and attention is paid to current research questions and methods in using this group of material.Show less
This thesis was written with the objective to re-examine the Aegyptiaca on Malta and Gozo during the Phoenician and Punic phases, in order to achieve a better understanding of the cultural exchange...Show moreThis thesis was written with the objective to re-examine the Aegyptiaca on Malta and Gozo during the Phoenician and Punic phases, in order to achieve a better understanding of the cultural exchange processes, which would have occurred during the first millennium BCE. Because of the geographic location of the islands in the middle of the Mediterranean, Malta holds a unique position, where several different cultures meet and merge. Based on previously published material (Hölbl 1989 and Sagona 2005), every object has been critically discussed and analyzed within its archaeological and cultural context. While some of the objects were created in Egypt, others were good copies of Egyptian originals, produced elsewhere. While a number of the objects might have been associated with purely aesthetic values, some of our objects allow for a deeper religious association. On Malta we see a convergence of Egyptian and Levantine influences, merged together in Phoenician art. This is not a strange phenomenon, as the Phoenicians themselves already adopted and changed many aspects of different cultures, which they again distributed across the Mediterranean. Where cultures meet they can merge together to form a new culture, but that is not always the case. People can also resist a new dominating culture by falling back on an older culture. This feat is shown in the numismatics of Malta and Gozo, as even under the new Roman domination coins were minted with Punic and Phoenician deities and motifs displayed on them.Show less
The guard houses of Minoan Crete are often said to be defensible buildings, based on their location and architecture. However, were they really defensible? To answer the question of how defensible...Show moreThe guard houses of Minoan Crete are often said to be defensible buildings, based on their location and architecture. However, were they really defensible? To answer the question of how defensible these buildings were, three different methods were applied to a sample of guard houses. These methods were Least Cost Path analysis, the calculation of a Defensibility Index value, and Space Syntax with Visibility Graph Analysis. These methods have never been tried before and the results give new insight in how defensible these guard houses actually were. Not only from the outside, but from the inside as well. The results have confirmed that these guard houses are generally defensible buildings, although the defensibility differs per building and per method. In the future, a higher quality DEM and better datasets, that fix most of the flaws in the results presented here, will provide an even more accurate perspective on these guard houses.Show less
The Late Antique architectural remains on the acropolis of Koroneia’s city hill have not yet received the research attention they need in the current Ancient Cities of Boeotia project. This thesis...Show moreThe Late Antique architectural remains on the acropolis of Koroneia’s city hill have not yet received the research attention they need in the current Ancient Cities of Boeotia project. This thesis will delve deeper into the collapsed vaulted ceiling remains that have been found on the acropolis and provides a thorough description, coordinate measurements and plans, and begins the difficult task op interpreting these remains. It is attempted to reconstruct what the building was and draw parallels to other similar buildings. Research into the remains was conducted in the 2009 field season by architectural specialist Dr Inge Uytterhoeven, and the August 2012 field season saw the continuance of this research by students. For a field school on ground-based digital recording techniques, students were tasked with recording the remains of the large structure on the acropolis which had earlier been dubbed the ‘Bishop’s Palace’ by researchers. Over 200 Total Station measurements were taken, detailed descriptions and sketches were made, and over the course of two mornings the entire remains were carefully documented. Also, suggestions for the improvement of fieldwork and analysis methods and suggestions for further research are made in this thesis. In this thesis, special attention is paid to the recording and analyzing techniques used, and these are described in detail. Also, an attempt has been made to interpret the remains and compare them to other, perhaps similar, complexes. In close consultation with Dr Inge Uytterhoeven, the remains have been roughly dated to the 5th or 6th century AD, the Late Antique period on the Greek mainland. A look at both the remains and the period suggests that the most likely interpretation is an elite villa or house with a public character.Show less
This thesis has covered many literary sources, some of them dating back to the 17th century, some more recent of date. This was done in order to achieve the research goal and to answer the research...Show moreThis thesis has covered many literary sources, some of them dating back to the 17th century, some more recent of date. This was done in order to achieve the research goal and to answer the research questions. The main goal was to reach the most objective view possible, concerning the origins, history and use, on the catacombs and catacomb research. The research performed on the catacombs in the last 450 years was divided into two main categories. The first concerns all the research performed in the 17th, 18th, 19th and the major part of the 20th century, differing from the second methodological category. These differences are mainly caused by the fact that those earlier researchers did not have the technological means to perform certain investigations, in contradiction with the later researchers who did. Another difference between the two categories is the presence or absence of religious influences. Especially the authors of the early works, some of them written in the time of the Counter Reformation, were professing Christians with close connections with the Catholic Church. Their own believes and religiously founded motivation have distorted their work. Whether the later researchers are religious or not is not clear, but if so, then it has not influenced their work as none of them mention religion. The fact that Jewish catacombs are also a subject of research nowadays indicates that the Catacomb Archaeology has changed (Rutgers et al. 2005, Rutgers et al. 2007). Instead of only focussing on the remains of early Christianity, the horizon has broadened. This also shows through other recent works, the catacombs offer more possibilities than previously thought and can serve both as subject and object of research.Show less
This thesis is concerned with 95 weaving implements collected in a survey at the ancient city of Koroneia. It comprises of one bobbin, six spindle whorls and 88 loomweights. The bobbin and...Show moreThis thesis is concerned with 95 weaving implements collected in a survey at the ancient city of Koroneia. It comprises of one bobbin, six spindle whorls and 88 loomweights. The bobbin and loomweights (except for two) are put into suitable categories, based mainly on the typologies of Staermose Nielsen (2005) and Mårtensson et al. (2009). For the spindle whorls assigning them to a type has proven more difficult. Date ranges are proposed for the implements, but these tend to be rather unspecific, due to some problems regarding the dating of textile implements in general. Next, the technological side of the implements is assessed. The spindle whorls were probably used for very thick woollen yarns, and the discoid weights have proven suitable for quite a broad range of threads, while the conical and pyramidal weights were more suitable for finer yarns. The mapping of the implements under study has shown that the textile production in Koroneia was probably home-based, because the majority has been collected in areas that are thought to be domestic, including a villa-area. There are some exceptions, in which cases textile implements might be either funarary or dedicatory, or simply discarded, broken material. Hopefully more textile implements will be published in the future, especially with regard to their find context. This will facilitate the dating of similar material and might shed a light on the textiles that were used in antiquity.Show less
Research into the perception of monumentality in the Roman Empire has so far only concentrated on the monuments itself. The aim of this thesis is to show the necessity to shift the focus from the...Show moreResearch into the perception of monumentality in the Roman Empire has so far only concentrated on the monuments itself. The aim of this thesis is to show the necessity to shift the focus from the actual monument to its surroundings. Phenomenological research methods have been introduced in archaeology over the last couple of decades to analyse experience, but due to their imbeddedness in the post-processual theoretical framework they concentrate on the personal experience rather than on the common perception. However, other spatial analyses like those introduced by Space Syntax provide the necessary methods to analyse the general perception of space, but these analyses require detailed knowledge of the ancient urban environment which are often not preserved in the archaeological record. Therefore, other techniques have to be used to complement these analyses, like the concept of ‘armature’. In this way it seems possible to analyse the general perception of a monument based on an analysis of its relation with the surroundings.Show less
In deze scriptie heb ik geprobeerd een antwoord te geven op de vraag waar de Nehalennia-altaren, gevonden in Zeeland, gemaakt zijn. De godin Nehalennia is voor het eerst bij Domburg in 1647...Show moreIn deze scriptie heb ik geprobeerd een antwoord te geven op de vraag waar de Nehalennia-altaren, gevonden in Zeeland, gemaakt zijn. De godin Nehalennia is voor het eerst bij Domburg in 1647 gevonden en ruim drie eeuwen later weer in 1970. De altaren zijn waarschijnlijk gemaakt in de periode tussen 150 en 250 jaar na Christus. Nehalennia werd vereerd als beschermgodin van de scheepvaarders en wellicht ook van reizigers. Dit is terug te zien aan het grote aantal handelaren dat bij haar heiligdommen heeft geofferd zoals te lezen is in de inscripties op de altaren. Een etymologische studie naar onderzoek naar de betekenis van haar naam toont aan deze vermoedelijk afkomstig is van ‘leiden’. Dit past goed bij een godin die zeelieden moest beschermen. De steensoorten gebruikt voor de altaren werden gewonnen in de Eifel en in België en Noordoost-Frankrijk. Duidelijke kenmerken van de godin zijn haar schoudermanteltje en de aanwezigheid van een fruitmand en/of een hond aan haar zijde. Verdere versieringen op de altaren bestaan vaak uit cornucopiae en laurierstruiken. Om de onderzoeksvraag te beantwoorden heb ik meerdere kenmerken van de Nehalennia-altaren uit Zeeland vergeleken met altaren gevonden in Keulen om te kijken of er parallellen bestaan. Uiteindelijk luidt mijn conclusie dat het zeer goed mogelijk is dat de altaren, gevonden in Zeeland, gemaakt zijn in Keulen. Er zijn veel gemeenschappelijke kenmerken en ook de locatie van Keulen, dicht bij Zeeland, en de vele dedicanten die uit Keulen afkomstig waren lijken dit te staven.Show less
How were the Frankish towers in Greece used? This is the question that this thesis addressed by comparing the towers in Boeotia in Greece and the towers in West Europe. Before discussing the towers...Show moreHow were the Frankish towers in Greece used? This is the question that this thesis addressed by comparing the towers in Boeotia in Greece and the towers in West Europe. Before discussing the towers themselves, the settings and societies in which the towers were built were discussed. The feudal system, which was present in both societies, was not written down for the local aristocracy in Greece, which resulted in that aristocracy welcoming in the Franks who would give make their position of power legal. The chapters on the towers themselves were divided in three parts: origin, which dealt with how the towers came to be and when they were first built; Architecture, in which the physical appearance and features were discussed; and lastly the function-part which dealt with the question on how the towers were used. From the material evidence we can conclude that the main function of the towers was not military. The symbolic function seems to have been present in both the European towers and the Greek towers, though the European ones are way better dressed and the question remains why this was not deemed necessary or not possible in Greece. Although it was assumed that the towers were lived in by the different lords, the material seems to point towards the idea that the towers were not built for habitation. The lack of both lighting and heat would make continuous habitation uncomfortable at best. In the last chapter this data was combined to see where the differences and similarities were between the towers, this was followed by a possible explanation for these differences and similarities. The thesis concluded with the suggestion that the areas around the towers should be excavated to provide insight in possible other buildings around the towers which could provide a lot of information on the activities in and around the towers.Show less
