This research delves into the preservation of wooden furniture excavated from Hercu- laneum, employing experimental archaeol- ogy. The primary goal is to comprehend the sequence of events leading...Show moreThis research delves into the preservation of wooden furniture excavated from Hercu- laneum, employing experimental archaeol- ogy. The primary goal is to comprehend the sequence of events leading to the survival of these artefacts. Central to this study is the research question of how experimen- tal archaeology can elucidate the lifespan and events surrounding archaeological ar- tefacts, particularly the wooden Roman furniture unearthed from Herculaneum. To address this question, the study delves into sub-questions related to the impact of the Vesuvius eruption on Herculaneum, the rep- lication of charring conditions, and the ef- fects of charring on wooden materials. Herculaneum faced pyroclastic surges and flows during the eruption, resulting in a 20-metre layer of ash and debris that pre- served wooden artefacts by rapidly sub- merging and preventing burning through oxygen deprivation. Samples were made in accordance with the wood and toolmarks found on the original artefacts, using ancient woodworking tools and two types of wood, oak and silver fir. Two charring methods, hot-ash and kiln charring, were designed and tested on the samples. Results indicate that hot-ash charring yields less blackening and carbonization com- pared to kiln charring with variations in vol- ume and weight loss between oak and silver fir samples. Notably, the combined process of hot-ash and kiln charring showed com- parable or reduced volume and weight loss compared to the sole kiln process, sug- gesting effective preservation. However, in terms of the traceability of tool marks ap- plied to the samples, no notable differences were found. All tested methods preserved the details of the samples after charring when performed correctly. Emphasising the need for improved meth- ods and tools to refine experiments, the research concludes that, despite challeng- es in method control in hot-ash firing, the combined charring method may result in the best preservation of the artefacts. With minor improvements, this method could be used to produce samples for experimental trials and in extent to gain a better under- standing of the Herculaneum furniture and how Roman carpenters made them.Show less
In this thesis the theme of the diffusion of the cult of the Egyptian goddess Isis from Egypt across the Mediterranean world is treated, by investigating some of the approaches that have been...Show moreIn this thesis the theme of the diffusion of the cult of the Egyptian goddess Isis from Egypt across the Mediterranean world is treated, by investigating some of the approaches that have been employed by Bommas, Woolf, Bricault, and Versluys in their analysis of the theme; and by examining the features of the Temple of Isis of Philae, the Temple of Isis at the Campus Martius in Rome, and the Temple of Isis at Pompeii. While the Temple of Isis at Philae mostly features architectural elements that are typical of indigenous Egyptian temples, the Italian Iseums of Pompeii and of the Campus Martius feature elements meant to evoke the Egyptian environment and elements of the cult of Isis that are represented in a Graeco-Roman fashion. After comparing the different characteristics of these structures, it emerges that the element that can be found in Egyptian temples of Isis (or in at least, the one at Philae) that persisted in the Temples of Isis when these were built in Italy, was the Nilometer, which was featured at the Temple of Isis at Pompeii, although it is not possible to know with certainty if this was featured in the Iseum Campense by looking at the archaeological evidence. In any case, many conducts for water were found in the latter structure, which could have been likely linked to the presence of a Nilometer or of other elements connected to water, and this would underline the persistence of at least the importance of the presence of water in the concept of the Iseum, and thus likely also in the practice of the cult. However, It has to be underlined that in the case of Philae, the Nilometer was with most probability used in connection to the presence of the river Nile in the vicinity of the structure, while in Italic temples this would have been an element related to the ritual of the cult. Other Egyptian-izing features, such as the dromos of the Iseum Campense, and the purgatorium of the Temple of Isis at Pompeii, were not present at the Temple of Isis at Philae, thus probably being features meant to evoke the concept of Egypt in general more than reflecting the characteristics of Egyptian Iseums. Therefore, it is possible to assume that the almost-total refashioning of the concept of the Iseum when this kind of structure was built in at least Rome and Pompeii might be a reflection of the refashioning of the cult that took place after it diffused out of Egypt.Show less
In this paper I am taking a look at how votive deposits can help us learn more about cult practices in Pompeii and if these cult practices could then be linked to bigger cultural changes, through a...Show moreIn this paper I am taking a look at how votive deposits can help us learn more about cult practices in Pompeii and if these cult practices could then be linked to bigger cultural changes, through a study of the temple of Apollo and the Doric temple. Both of these temples have development phases that start in the Archaïc period and end in the Roman period, at the end of Pompeii. Through a quantitative analysis based on excavation reports I am able to get information on the composition of the votive deposits in three time periods: the 6th century B.C., when Pompeii was mainly inhabited by Etruscans and Greeks, the 4th century B.C., when Pompeii had a Samnitic phase and the 2nd century B.C., when Pompeii had entered its Roman phase. The quantitative analysis of the temple of Apollo showed a decline in votives, though this might be influenced by missing data as neither of my excavation reports were complete. The analysis also showed that in the Roman period there was an introduction of figurines in the deposits. The biggest part of the deposits was made up of ceramics. In these ceramics, there was a shift from imported ceramics to locally produced ceramics. The type of ceramics also pointed to a possibility of feasting rituals being performed at the temple during the Etruscan and Samnitic phases. In the Doric temple the missing data unfortunately included most of the ceramics. The introduction of figurines also occurred in the Samnitic phase, not the Roman phase. Like the temple of Apollo, the Doric temple shows a shift away from imported ceramics to locally produced ceramics and figurines. The figurines may also point to more individually oriented rituals at the temple as these were usually considered personal gifts. Some of the changes can also be traced back to the cultural phases of the city, as the Samnites often used figurines as votives. The absence of feasting rituals may also be due to cultural influence, as it was mostly the Etruscans and Samnites who liked these rituals, while the Romans were more individually oriented.Show less
Een onderzoek naar de invloed van Romeinse vrouwen (in dit geval enkel uit Pompeii) in de publieke ruimte focussend op de religieuze, politieke en economische invloedssfeer en gebruikmakend van het...Show moreEen onderzoek naar de invloed van Romeinse vrouwen (in dit geval enkel uit Pompeii) in de publieke ruimte focussend op de religieuze, politieke en economische invloedssfeer en gebruikmakend van het sociologisch model van French en Raven uit 1959.Show less
This thesis explores the role of architecture in influencing the social position of slaves in the Pompeian household. While slaves were omnipresent in the elite household, research regarding their...Show moreThis thesis explores the role of architecture in influencing the social position of slaves in the Pompeian household. While slaves were omnipresent in the elite household, research regarding their lives has been lagging behind. Besides architectural evidence from Pompeii, the thesis looks into textual, legal, and iconographic sources. Slaves in the Roman Empire did not possess any legal rights. However, they are often mentioned in legal documents concerned with ownership disputes. Lacking any legal protection, the life of a slave was dependent on his master, often making slaves a target for emotional and physical abuse. The slave could only endure such outbursts and continue working hard, for the only way to gain freedom was if the master granted him manumission. This is illustrated by the story of Lucius in Apuleius’ metamorphoses, a satirical comment on the lives of slaves. The well-off Lucius was transformed into a donkey. As a mule he is beaten and abused, worked half to death, humiliated and sold multiple times. Apuleius created a story which strikes a close resemblance to the life of a slave. Apart from literary sources, Pompeian art also shows how deeply the low status of slaves was embedded in Roman society, where slaves were represented as small and insignificant. Regarding the role of architecture, five different-sized Pompeian houses are examined, comparing floor-plans to identify characteristics common to these houses, and searching for places where slaves might have enjoyed privacy. The focus of this research points to the servile quarters such as the kitchen and the triclinium, allowing us to examine the role of architecture on the movement trajectories of slaves. All five houses have different sized doorways within the house, directing guests to big open doors, while slave staff had to use small and narrow doorways. The difference in the size of door apertures emphasises the social distinction within the house. The architecture of Roman houses aims to create sightlines to optimize visual effects. The triclinium (dining room) was an important part of the house and usually had the best view into the garden. To maintain this visual effect slaves had to avoid crossing this line of sight. The architecture thus contributed in controlling the movement of slaves.Show less
Domesticity, its definition and its patterning have continually evolved and changed, to the extent that our modern perception of what constitutes a home, and our perceptions of ‘public’ and ...Show moreDomesticity, its definition and its patterning have continually evolved and changed, to the extent that our modern perception of what constitutes a home, and our perceptions of ‘public’ and ‘private’ are drastically different from what existed in ancient society. This is even more applicable for Ancient Greece and Rome, two civilizations which had a significant impact on the majority of the Old World. Despite this, few studies have undertaken an effective comparison of houses in these two civilizations, and what similarities and contrasts would have existed. This thesis will focus on this issue, specifically targeting two of the best known cities in the Hellenic and Roman periods; namely that of Pompeii and Olynthos. Architecture should, as archaeological research has shown for Greece and Rome retrospectively, reflect the values upheld in society and transmit the ethos of the wider community. For Olynthos, the idea of ‘Isonomia’ should be visible within households, the notion that all members of Greek society were of similar status and of equal importance. Conversely at Pompeii, the concept of ‘Luxuria’ – or rather social status and wealth – was important, thus a stratified system of housing disparity should be witnessed to reflect this. I will target block A vii for Olynthos and Insula of the Menander for Pompeii, two representative and well preserved areas with multiple phases of building history, to carry out this study; in this way a clusters of habitation can be compared. In doing so, this thesis will attempt to investigate the relationship between social contemporary concepts and one specific physical representation of this societies, i.e. domestic architecture.Show less
Casa del Frutteto, een middenklasse atriumhuis in Pompeii, herbergt drie Romeinse wandschilderingen van hoge kwaliteit; een van deze is een prachtige tuinschildering behorende tot de derde...Show moreCasa del Frutteto, een middenklasse atriumhuis in Pompeii, herbergt drie Romeinse wandschilderingen van hoge kwaliteit; een van deze is een prachtige tuinschildering behorende tot de derde Pompeiaanse stijl. Deze tuinschildering bevat verschillende Egyptisch aandoende elementen. Hoewel over de tuinschildering zelf veel is gepubliceerd, zijn de Egyptische elementen in deze tuinschildering slechts beschreven en vermeld in catalogi. Dit onderzoek richt zich daarom op de betekenis en functie van de Egyptische elementen in de tuinschildering in cubiculum (8) van Casa del Frutteto. Door middel van een uitgebreide analyse van de context en de elementen van de schildering, een vergelijking met de tuinschildering in het andere cubiculum van Casa del Frutteto en een beknopte uiteenzetting van het contact tussen het Romeinse rijk en Egypte wordt een religieuze, culturele en functionele interpretatie van de schildering gegeven en kan aan de hand daarvan onder andere worden geconcludeerd dat de Egyptisch elementen een hoofdzakelijk decoratieve functie hadden in het huis en ongeacht de vele associaties met de populaire Isis-cultus het cubiculum niet van een religieuze functie voorzagen, hoewel een religieuze betekenis van de elementen voor de eigenaar van het alsmede de bezoeker niet uit te sluiten is.Show less
In deze scriptie wordt er gekeken naar de verschillen in de aardewerkassemblages in de Romeinse periode aan de hand van drie sites. In Pompeii en Abdera wordt er specifiek naar twee huizen gekeken...Show moreIn deze scriptie wordt er gekeken naar de verschillen in de aardewerkassemblages in de Romeinse periode aan de hand van drie sites. In Pompeii en Abdera wordt er specifiek naar twee huizen gekeken en bij Colchester naar al het aardewerk gevonden op de site. Door het analyseren van het aardewerk kunnen er conclusies worden getrokken over de aardewerkassemblages van de drie sites en over de manier waarop deze sites zijn onderzocht.Show less
