This thesis tried to give a new answer concerning cross- cultural interaction between the Roman and Sasanian Realm. Wheareas most literature concludes that interaction between these realms was...Show moreThis thesis tried to give a new answer concerning cross- cultural interaction between the Roman and Sasanian Realm. Wheareas most literature concludes that interaction between these realms was almost impossible, blocked by war, this thesis tried to give another option. Namely, that there is reason to believe there was contact, on economic, stately and social level.Show less
This thesis presents a spatial analysis of insula V ii in Roman Ostia, the principal harbour city of Imperial Rome. The Severan and final phase of occupation of the insula are compared with each...Show moreThis thesis presents a spatial analysis of insula V ii in Roman Ostia, the principal harbour city of Imperial Rome. The Severan and final phase of occupation of the insula are compared with each other to gain a better understanding of the architectural and spatial changes that took place between the Severan phase, and the final occupation of the insula. This thesis seeks to answer the following question: How did the spatial organisation of insula V ii change between the Severan phase and the final phase? In order to answer this question, space syntax methods are used. By comparing the integration (real relative asymmetry) and control values of the units in the buildings between the two phases, an estimate can be given of the amount of privacy and the importance of the rooms. This thesis argues that, between the Severan and the final phase, a shift towards more privacy in the city block occured.Show less
The subject of this thesis is the changes in the Nabataean mortuary practice that take place under the Roman influence in the period from the first century BC up until the start of the second...Show moreThe subject of this thesis is the changes in the Nabataean mortuary practice that take place under the Roman influence in the period from the first century BC up until the start of the second century AD. The main research question is: how did the Nabataean mortuary practices change in the Nabataean from the first century BC to the start of the second century AD under Roman influence? This question will be answered at the hand of two sub questions which are focussed on the creation of a model of the Roman funerary practices as seen in the Egyptian sites Alexandria, Berenike and Tuna el-Gebel and the Syrian sites Dura-Europos, Palmyra and Tyre and a model of the Nabataean sepulchral methods created by looking at seven Nabataean sites: Bir Madkhur near Petra, Dumat near Ḥegra, Ḥegra at the southern border of the kingdom, Humayma, the Nabataean capital Petra, Umm al-Jimāl located in the north of the kingdom and Wadi Ramm. Two theoretical themes are used as the leitmotif for this thesis: the theory behind the mortuary practices and Romanisation. The conclusion that can be drawn is that nearly no Roman influence can be seen in the Nabataean kingdom before the annexation and the model created with the use of the abovementioned Egyptian and Syrian site does not fit with the Nabataean kingdom before the annexation. Elements that could be seen as Roman are likely to be Hellenistic, elements which have been places inside a Nabataean context. The used theoretical concepts of Romanisation do not fit with the processes that are visible in the Nabataean kingdom, and Hellenisation is more likely. The discussed theoretical, anthropological background is at least partially applicable. More research is needed to enlarge the used dataset and to explain the reason why no Roman influence can be seen.Show less
This thesis aims to explore how run-off irrigation and terraces agriculture can be used to have a better understanding of the socio-economic dynamics and farming economy of the Petra region between...Show moreThis thesis aims to explore how run-off irrigation and terraces agriculture can be used to have a better understanding of the socio-economic dynamics and farming economy of the Petra region between the Nabataean and the Byzantine Periods (100 BC – 400 AD approx.). Run-off irrigation and agricultural terraces are common around Petra and its hinterland. Despite such farming structures in Udhruh, a site located east of Petra, having been studied in detail in recent years, their roles in the hinterland’s farming economy are not completely clear yet. While the lack of material culture remains and stratified sequences in these agricultural systems represent a challenge for archaeologists, farming installations can be contrasted with the available archaeological and historical data. Using this approach, the vast agricultural landscape of Udhruh emerges. Five areas around the city of Petra and its hinterland which have evidence of run-off and agricultural terraces were selected for comparison: Beida and Wadi Musa, in the vicinity of the city, were all related to wine and olive production; and Humayma, Bir Madhkur and Wadi Faynan, sites in the hinterland, were cereal-based farming economies under military or imperial control. This information was contrasted with available data from Udhruh in order to understand the nature of its farming economy, which is found to fit with the hinterland pattern. A yield productivity estimation was then performed on one of the ancient terrace systems located northwest of Udhruh, followed by a population estimation to provide a quantitative image of how much such systems contributed to the ancient farming economy. This estimation, along with the wheat caloric component, was compared with the caloric need of a Roman soldier. The results demonstrated that the farming economy at Udhruh was reorganized after the Roman annexation in 106 AD, probably to support the presence of a Roman army at Udhruh. When the site experienced another transformation with the arrival of the Legio VI Ferrata during the Byzantine Period, agricultural and water management innovations were developed to handle the necessary increase in food production capacity. Therefore, this research demonstrates that the study of ancient run-off irrigation systems and agricultural terraces can be used in combination with archaeological and historical data to have a better understanding of ancient socio-economic dynamics.Show less
Master thesis | Classics and Ancient Civilizations (MA)
open access
The main focal point of this thesis are the imperial statues of Roman Egypt. Two distinct styles can be recognized in the sculptures: a traditional Egyptian style and a classical Roman style. The...Show moreThe main focal point of this thesis are the imperial statues of Roman Egypt. Two distinct styles can be recognized in the sculptures: a traditional Egyptian style and a classical Roman style. The research question is dual: Are the stylistic differences of imperial statues from Egypt related to differences in provenance? And does a connection between style and function of imperial statues exist? After giving a general introduction to Roman Egypt and the changes that Roman rule brought forth on a political and military level, a corpus of 37 statues is discussed. The characteristics of each statue are described, with special attention to their provenance. In the fourth chapter contemporary archaeological and written sources are treated, as well as existing theories on the placement and functions of imperial statues. Afterwards the research results are presented and a clear conclusion is drawn.Show less
In the broader historical debate Religion in Carthage has had some polarizing views when it comes to Roman Imperialism. Colonial and Anti-Colonial views made it look as if the relationship between...Show moreIn the broader historical debate Religion in Carthage has had some polarizing views when it comes to Roman Imperialism. Colonial and Anti-Colonial views made it look as if the relationship between the peoples of North Africa and the Romans was rather static and one-sided. In response to that I have tried to elaborate those ideas that support the workings of a more dynamic approach where the North African peoples in close collaboration gave new meaning to both the old and the new interpretations of the various deities present within the near vicinity of Carthage. Although it does seem that a distinction between identities can be made, they appear to be far less significant than previously assumed.Show less
In this thesis Roman tombstone inscriptions and letters are investigated. Two views on death are used for analysis of tombstone texts. The one, is a view of death as the slowly exiting of the soul...Show moreIn this thesis Roman tombstone inscriptions and letters are investigated. Two views on death are used for analysis of tombstone texts. The one, is a view of death as the slowly exiting of the soul from the world of the living to the other-worldly, called expiration. The other is a view of death as the ultimate final moment in which nothing exists, called termination. What can tombstone inscriptions –complemented with letters – tell us about how mourning worked for individuals in Roman society? What does mourning mean to Romans? In what way are mourning, display of grief and bereavement – expressed through burial rituals and on gravestones – typically Roman and in what way is it timeless? Romans tried to preserve memory of the deceased with elaborate funerals, with appealing inscriptions and with a very large variety of different tombstone inscriptions, in this way respect was paid to the dead.Show less
Fascinés par le caractère provocant de l’ouvrage Les Boucs de Chraïbi et par son style dit moderniste et expérimental, nous voulons rechercher de quelle manière l’immigration maghrébine en France...Show moreFascinés par le caractère provocant de l’ouvrage Les Boucs de Chraïbi et par son style dit moderniste et expérimental, nous voulons rechercher de quelle manière l’immigration maghrébine en France est représentée dans la littérature francophone d’après-guerre. Pour en avoir une image complète, nous prendrons comme œuvre de comparaison le roman Au Pays (2009) de Tahar Ben Jelloun (1944), en raison de sa parution une cinquantaine d’années plus tard. Dans ce roman, il aborde un autre aspect que l’immigration maghrébine a entraîné au fil des années, qui est devenu de plus en plus important : le soi-disant « conflit des générations ». Dans cette étude comparative nous nous pencherons sur les techniques littéraires dont les auteurs se servent pour présenter le sujet conformément à leur point de vue. De plus nous voulons approfondir notre problématique au moyen d’une approche thématique qui nous permettra de savoir davantage sur les motivations derrière la décision d’émigrer, sur le voyage en soi et sur les expériences des immigrés maghrébins quant aux conditions de travail et de vie. Nous désirons également savoir quel regard l’immigré et l’État français portent l’un sur l’autre et comprendre les crises d’identité éprouvées aussi bien par la première que par la deuxième génération d’immigrés nord-africains.Show less
A thesis that looks into the position, the function and the look of private and public nymphaea throughout the ancient Roman city of Ostia. The research presented in this this thesis is primarily...Show moreA thesis that looks into the position, the function and the look of private and public nymphaea throughout the ancient Roman city of Ostia. The research presented in this this thesis is primarily based on a new paradigm in the social sciences called ‘mobilities’ and the method of space syntax.Show less
There is extensive discussion amongst scholars as to the origin and flourishing of the phenomenon of the living deified ruler. The so-called ruler cult quickly gains popularity in the Hellenistic...Show moreThere is extensive discussion amongst scholars as to the origin and flourishing of the phenomenon of the living deified ruler. The so-called ruler cult quickly gains popularity in the Hellenistic era and continues long into the Roman period. Although scholars have long been trying to find an explanation for this in the source material, none have succeeded in finding one which satisfies all. It is possible that the Cognitive Science of Religion (CSR) could provide us with a new framework in which to place the already exciting evidence. Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary and scientific investigation of the mind and intelligence. Its advantages are that it focusses on general ‘laws’ of thinking that follow out of the structure of our brains. It follows then, that these are theories that should be applicable across cultures and, since the structure of our brains has not evolved since the beginning of history (ca. 3000 B.C.), they are also applicable through time. Cognitive science could therefore help in providing a framework in which the current theories on the ruler cult can function, by indicating what is even humanly possible to think based on the structure of the brain. It could perhaps, even suggest the most likely theories that can be discovered given certain tendencies the human mind has. This research examines the possibility of applying the Cognitive Science of Religion in the origin and flourishing of the Hellenistic and Roman ruler cults, as well as the study of Ancient History in general. It does this by examining the viability of the so-called Standard Model (a seven-point construct that outlines the major areas of consensus in CSR) in the primary material of the Hellenistic and Roman periods.Show less
The ancient Roman city of Ostia has captured the imagination of visitors and the interest of scholars for centuries. However, despite numerous past and current research projects many aspects of the...Show moreThe ancient Roman city of Ostia has captured the imagination of visitors and the interest of scholars for centuries. However, despite numerous past and current research projects many aspects of the site have remained unexplored. One of these areas concerns the role of mosaic floors found in Ostia’s commercial spaces. Although most have been described and some have been ascribed an advertising function in previous publications, no collective study into their role has been done before. This thesis focussed on exploring the role of mosaic floors in the commercial spaces of Ostia built and used in the first, second and third centuries AD. Thereby looking to identify any general trends which might explain the individual or collective decision taken to use mosaic floors in certain commercial spaces and not in others. But also aiming to bring to light which specific functions the mosaics fulfilled. Data has been collected for this research by performing a survey in Ostia as well as studying literature on Ostian mosaics, especially Becatti’s publication from 1961. Clarke’s ideas on non-elite Roman art (Clarke 2003) and the influence of the composition of black-and-white mosaics on the viewer (Clarke 1979) have been very important to interpret the data. This thesis argues that there are several reasons why mosaics would have been preferred over non-mosaics in several of Ostia’s commercial spaces. All mosaics were probably preferred over cheaper floor types as they gave the spaces a more luxurious look, which would attract (better paying) customers. Furthermore, the alternating periods of economic decline and improvement seen in the city could also have been of influence. In addition, a variety of more specific functions has been detected: advertisement, status display, expression of identity and ownership, pleasing the gods and providing a focal point for auctions. The knowledge gained through this study has given insight in the ways owners of commercial spaces in the Roman period used decorations to influence (potential) customers. But also how owners used these art forms to express personal ideas and values. Which is an interesting addition to our understanding of commerce in the Roman world.Show less
Abstract In 2011 an excavation in Camelon near Falkirk in Scotland revealed a large amount of leather artefacts, primarily shoes. After their conservation treatment these artefacts were brought to...Show moreAbstract In 2011 an excavation in Camelon near Falkirk in Scotland revealed a large amount of leather artefacts, primarily shoes. After their conservation treatment these artefacts were brought to Leiden University for further research. It was claimed that the find was unique because of its large quantity, good quality, sharp dating and well described find location. For this reason and the fact that leather artefacts can provide a lot of information about the people that lived in the past and could actually make major contributions in answering certain archaeological questions, the leather artefacts had to be documented well and extensively. But how to convert these objects into clear information? Because there was no standard approach of how to document complete archaeological leather, an approach had to be devised to document the Camelon find. There were two requirements the approach had to meet. Firstly, it had to display the information the leather artefacts possessed in a clear way and secondly, the results had to be suitable for comparison to other leather artefacts. While creating an approach for the Camelon leather, the idea emerged that this approach could actually serve as a standard approach for documenting all leather finds. Because when the approach is suitable for an unique find such as the Camelon leather, it must suitable for other leather finds as well. To investigate the uniqueness of the Camelon leather and to test the newly created approach for its desired requirements and its suitability as future standard approach, the results were compared to the records of three other but quite similar sites that were documented in previous years. The results of this comparison show that the requirements indeed have been met. The approach displays the information in a clear way and at the same time the results are easy comparable to other leather artefacts. It has also been found that the Camelon leather is an unique find. The other sites show similar quantities and good quality artefacts but not all sites have clearly described find locations or a good dating like the Camelon find has. When the suitability to serve as standard approach is subsequently investigated, it becomes clear that the approach created to document the Camelon leather is indeed very suitable. Modern techniques such as scanning machines and digital photography, make the approach that is created to document the Camelon leather favourable over the other approaches. The approach is actually more extended than the other approaches because of additional scans and photographs that shows the artefact condition and helps to examine the artefacts without having to touch them every time.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
closed access
While methodological examinations and evaluations on post-depositional processes, sampling, surface collection, the definition of ‘site’ and other phenomena in intensive and extensive surveys...Show moreWhile methodological examinations and evaluations on post-depositional processes, sampling, surface collection, the definition of ‘site’ and other phenomena in intensive and extensive surveys already came to the fore in the 1980s, less theoretical and methodological attention seems to be given to the archaeological process that takes place from the collection of the finds on the surface to the modes of archaeological interpretation. Although ceramological analyses often play a large role in reconstructing the past, especially in survey archaeology, the capabilities of the ceramologist in the ascription of chronology, function and provenance are often limited, resulting in a dataset that consists of data on various resolutions. In this light, a certain tension between our aim, providing a detailed reconstruction of the past, and our actual capabilities has to be acknowledged. These data, however, are the data we have to work with. This thesis explores the limits of our capabilities and dataset by applying a wide range of distributive and quantitative methods from a chronological and functional point of view. Although the survey data appear to be often biased to some extent, each of the applied methods is also fundamentally biased and is giving its own character to the dataset under examination. In this light, it should be stressed that the ‘source criticism’, which is often argued for in research, should be accompanied by a certain ‘instrumental criticism’. What seems to be apparent on the basis of the methodological exercises that are carried out in this thesis is a clear need to examine the archaeological record on the surface in its own right and context, as some of the methods applied clearly gave a different character to our own dataset when compared to the datasets of, for instance, the Eastern Korinthia Archaeological Survey and Sagalassos. In this light, the complexity of the formation of the archaeological record and even our own datasets should be acknowledged and a wide range of quantitative and distributive methods should be carried out in further research to comparatively examine and evaluate the complexity we encounter from the ‘raw’ data revealed by archaeology.Show less
This thesis is concerned with the city gates of Roman Ostia, the harbour-town of ancient Rome.The study examines whether there are any features (e.g. buildings, monuments and spatial use) that only...Show moreThis thesis is concerned with the city gates of Roman Ostia, the harbour-town of ancient Rome.The study examines whether there are any features (e.g. buildings, monuments and spatial use) that only occur because of the presence of the city gates. Furthermore, it investigates whether these buildings or spaces changed over time, responding to new infrastructural demands or functional requirements. To answer these questions, a detailed, map-based study and an on-site inspection of selected areas of Ostia’s built environment have been carried out. The principal data set for this study are the site maps of Ostia, available in printed form (Calza 1953) and in digital form (Manucci 1995). By examining the urban landscape of the areas around the city gates and by comparing this data to the urban composition throughout the rest of Ostia we noticed that the area around the city gates is equipped with a wide diversity of building-types. Around the gates we encountered all of the building that were needed for everyday life in Roman Ostia.Show less
The hairstyles of the empresses of the Roman Empire, like Julia Domna and Sabina Tranquillina, are distinctive for every empress. Sometimes the changes are subtle but sometimes they are also major....Show moreThe hairstyles of the empresses of the Roman Empire, like Julia Domna and Sabina Tranquillina, are distinctive for every empress. Sometimes the changes are subtle but sometimes they are also major. Empresses were known for these hairstyles and influenced the provinces with them. The coins that were distributed throughout the empire had enough details on them to reproduce these hairstyles. That these hairstyles were actually reproduced is visible on the tombstones from Britain. Not all hairstyles are distinctive on a tombstone, either because of the state of the tombstone or because the hair was styled at the back of the head which is not visible on a tombstone. The hairstyles that are distinctive on tombstones are very well visible and can actually add towards dating the tombstone more precisely. Hairpins were not depicted on either the sculptures of the empresses or on the tombstones but it is known from sources from other regions that they were used abundantly. Hairpins are found in different amounts on every site. Military sites along Hadrian’s Wall do not have as many hairpins as civilian based sites. An exception is South Shields, but this is a military site that was not actually along Hadrian’s Wall. From the civilian based sites we have learned that hairpins were found everywhere. A great place to find hairpins is at baths, this is represented by the finds from Caerleon and Wroxeter. One important conclusion about the hairpins is that the materials vary more among the later dated pins than they do among the earlier dated pins. Other finds that have to do with hairstyles are hair, hairpieces and hairnets, which can also be found but are not as common as hairpins. There has been an amazing find of a bun with hairpins in York but this is an extraordinary find. Other regions have yielded more examples but unfortunately not yet in Britain. There is one find from Britain of an elaborate decorated headband which is also extraordinary. Changes in hairstyles and fashion are visible in the archaeological record through the remains that are left of these hairstyles and depictions.Show less
A research on the lack of candidates for the function of Vestal Virgin, one of the most important priesthoods in Ancient Rome. Seen from the perspective of elite competition, this thesis shows that...Show moreA research on the lack of candidates for the function of Vestal Virgin, one of the most important priesthoods in Ancient Rome. Seen from the perspective of elite competition, this thesis shows that religion and politics were completely intertwined and that the elite daughters were used by their families for the political games of elite competition.Show less
This thesis investigated the spatial organisation and functional patterning of the rooms of the Oppian pavilion of the Domus Aurea, which was built by Emperor Nero in AD 60-68. The study uses a...Show moreThis thesis investigated the spatial organisation and functional patterning of the rooms of the Oppian pavilion of the Domus Aurea, which was built by Emperor Nero in AD 60-68. The study uses a combination of an analysis of the decorative programme of the Domus as published by Meyboom and Moormann in ‘Le Decorazioni Dipinte e Marmoree Della Domus Aurea di Nerone a Roma’ (2013), and an analysis of the spatial organisation of the building using Space Syntax techniques. The Oppian pavilion has never been subject to a formal spatial analysis prior to this thesis. The new perspective the analyses offer on the pavilion allows to shed new light on an area until now hardly explored. The results achieved by this thesis suggest that the Oppian pavilion was very unlikely to have had residential functions. Concluding from the Visibility Graph Analyses performed, most of the rooms were visually highly integrated, presuming rather a public function. At least two big dining rooms were present: rooms 40 and 128. The spatial and decorative characteristics of these rooms complement and amplify each other. The two rooms, moreover, were included in a pattern of visibility lines, called an ‘enfilade’. The enfilade pattern emerged from room 45a and continued on to the eastern end of corridor 92, from there it continued its way to room 132, and from room 132 it went through the Pentagonal Courtyard garden (no. 80a) and the porticoed gallery (no. 21), to end in room 9. A noticeable fact is that the enfilade pattern is cut off where the ‘Second Pentagonal Court’ is thought to have started. Hence it is very likely that th e ‘Second Court’ had a function that was entirely different from that of the rest of the Oppian pavilion. The spatial analysis in this thesis was applied from the perspective of the entrances of the pavilion only. Future investigations of the Domus which focus on all individual rooms as the root nodes for convex spatial studies could well contribute to gaining even more new insights into the spatial organisation of the pavilion.Show less
The Horvat Kur stone was found during the 2012 excavation season at Horvat Kur in the Galilee. It was found in secondary use in a stylobate wall of a synagogue. Many questions arose concerning this...Show moreThe Horvat Kur stone was found during the 2012 excavation season at Horvat Kur in the Galilee. It was found in secondary use in a stylobate wall of a synagogue. Many questions arose concerning this unique object. In this thesis I have tried to find answers on these questions and I have offered a first interpretation.Show less
