The central question in this thesis is what the role of Christianity was in the transition from the Roman into the Merovingian period in Cologne and Maastricht. The hypothesis is that the...Show moreThe central question in this thesis is what the role of Christianity was in the transition from the Roman into the Merovingian period in Cologne and Maastricht. The hypothesis is that the Merovingian elite used Christianity as a way to legitimize their power. In a city as Cologne there is much more evidence available, but even in the small castellum Maastricht, there is evidence to support this theory. Christianity played a significant role in the transition from Antiquity to the Middle Ages in both Maastricht and Cologne. Christianity became a significant sign of continuity.Show less
This thesis looks at the use of the Roman imperial alimenta which was established by the emperor Trajan at the turn of the second century AD. The alimenta sought to provide subsistence in the form...Show moreThis thesis looks at the use of the Roman imperial alimenta which was established by the emperor Trajan at the turn of the second century AD. The alimenta sought to provide subsistence in the form of small cash payments to aid parents in providing for their children. While such schemes had existed for some time in the form of private endowments, one must wonder why Trajan should choose to establish a much larger system stretching across Italy. The scale of such an undertaking had never been performed exclusively for children in the past and one must wonder how their place and role in society had changed by this time to make their investment worthwhile. As such this thesis looks at the demographic, economic and symbolic value's to be found in children and the value of such investment to the stability of Trajan's rule.Show less
Rond 150 v.C. beschreef de Griekse historicus Polybius in zijn Historiën hoe Rome was uitgegroeid van bescheiden stadstaat tot een mediterrane supermacht. Polybius zag de gemengde constitutie van...Show moreRond 150 v.C. beschreef de Griekse historicus Polybius in zijn Historiën hoe Rome was uitgegroeid van bescheiden stadstaat tot een mediterrane supermacht. Polybius zag de gemengde constitutie van de Romeinse Republiek als belangrijke reden voor dit succes. Deze constitutie bestond uit democratische, oligarchische en monarchale elementen. In Rome waren dit respectievelijk de volksvergaderingen, de senaat en de magistraten. De rol van het volk was vooral formeel, maar kende ook de nodige praktische elementen. Een ruime eeuw later was er van dit systeem vrijwel niets meer over en was de republiek na burgeroorlogen vervangen door een monarchie. Over hoe het democratische aspect van de Romeinse Republiek te interpreteren in deze ontwikkeling, bestaat de nodige onenigheid.Show less
In this thesis, Roman slaves' access to water is used as a case study for the study of Roman marginalisation. Roman slaveholders used water to marginalise slaves in two different ways: on a...Show moreIn this thesis, Roman slaves' access to water is used as a case study for the study of Roman marginalisation. Roman slaveholders used water to marginalise slaves in two different ways: on a personal level, the access to water was restricted, and on a professional level, the access to water was increased. Access to water was a power tool consciously employed by Roman slaveholders to marginalise others.Show less
This thesis has sought to research the Roman imperial cult in the province of Achaea during the Julio-Claudian Dynasty (27 BC - 68 AD). It has done so through a thorough study of the epigraphic and...Show moreThis thesis has sought to research the Roman imperial cult in the province of Achaea during the Julio-Claudian Dynasty (27 BC - 68 AD). It has done so through a thorough study of the epigraphic and numismatic sources that originate from the province. The first two chapters are subjected to the study of these sources, while the third chapter functioned as a synthesis of the evidence. Here, the sources are put into two larger debates surrounding the Roman imperial cult, such as the origin of the imperial cult (i.e. Roman or Hellenistic precedence), and what might be understood as 'ruler cult'. Moreover, the third chapter expands on the notion that it was the local élite who functioned as the main stimulus for the veneration of the imperial family, and to what extent this might have been enhanced by the 'petition-and-response'-model.Show less
This thesis explores the Attic custom of pederasty by applying gaze theory to passages from Socratic philosophy, vase-paintings and a selection of Greek novels. This allows for previously under...Show moreThis thesis explores the Attic custom of pederasty by applying gaze theory to passages from Socratic philosophy, vase-paintings and a selection of Greek novels. This allows for previously under-emphasized emotions and views to be studied, which reveals that the repeated scholarly focus on static active and passive roles between lover and beloved respectively is unjustified and restricting. Instead a trope is present in the sources where the impact that gazing upon a desired youth had could render a lover passive to his beauty: the beloved held (emotional) power over him through the spectacle he presents.Show less
The Roman upper classes did not approach marriage and divorce quite the same way our western civilisation does today. ‘The Romans were monogamous, but successively.’ This of course meant that the...Show moreThe Roman upper classes did not approach marriage and divorce quite the same way our western civilisation does today. ‘The Romans were monogamous, but successively.’ This of course meant that the Romans, both men and women, could marry more than once. This also means that divorce could be a frequent practice. there is sometimes the problem of what will become of the children that came from the now dissolved marriage. Nowadays most children will stay with their mother instead of their father in such a case, but that was all rather different in the time of the Romans. This thesis seeks to examine what rights these Roman mothers had in the cases of their divorce and custody of thier childrenShow less
The purpose of this research was to expand the debate on gender by incorporating the age debate and by focusing on how different bodies were represented in ancient theories on dietetics. I studied...Show moreThe purpose of this research was to expand the debate on gender by incorporating the age debate and by focusing on how different bodies were represented in ancient theories on dietetics. I studied the representation of healthy and sick menstruating women, pregnant women, elderly, infants and children in ancient medical texts. This research found that dietetics was applied differently based on the condition of the body. The advices given had similar qualities to the body when the body was healthy and seen as well balanced. In contrast, when a healthy body was assumed to be less well balanced the diets employed the theory of ‘opposites cure opposites’. When someone became ill the dietetic advices always focused on curing the patient using the theory of ‘opposites cure opposites’. Most importantly in all treatments countering the diseased state took precedence over rebalancing inherent bodily imbalances. In conclusion, the ideas on different body types found in ancient medical theories were reflected in the application of dietetics. This reflection was more pronounced in advices given to healthy people than in those given to the sick.Show less
This Research Master Thesis focusses on the rich epigraphic corpus in the third- and fourth-century Aphrodisias. By examining the Aphrodisian corpus of inscriptions, this Thesis aims to explore how...Show moreThis Research Master Thesis focusses on the rich epigraphic corpus in the third- and fourth-century Aphrodisias. By examining the Aphrodisian corpus of inscriptions, this Thesis aims to explore how several elements, crucial to civic identity in the Principate, were used and adapted by different parties in Aphrodisias in the third- and fourth-century changing political and ideological landscape to position themselves within the city, within the surrounding area, and within the Empire. I attempt to consider external elements of inscriptions when offering interpretations. The Thesis shall present most of its studies in the form of case study. Chapter 1 focusses on the elements the Aphrodisian elite applied to represent their identity, and how they selected to represent themselves in such ways according to the context. It aims to show that the Aphrodisians inherited traditional ideas of the civic elite, but religious affiliations gradually became dominant. Chapter 2 offers a case study on the ‘Archival Wall’, one of the best examples of civic self-representation in the city. Regarding the Wall as consciously fabricated lieu de mémoire, the chapter argues that the city, as a whole, defined itself by the concept of liberty, the competition with the famous Asian cities, and the continuous friendship with Rome. The key question is why the Aphrodisians chose these documents in this specific time to set up a Wall. Chapter 3 examines how Aphrodisias and Aphrodisians found and expressed their new role when the city was provincialised.Show less
To be a slave was to be socially and materially restrained. Many bondsmen sought to resist their subjugation through running away. This study is an attempt to document the motivations of runaway...Show moreTo be a slave was to be socially and materially restrained. Many bondsmen sought to resist their subjugation through running away. This study is an attempt to document the motivations of runaway slaves and the strategies used by Roman masters to recover and punish them.Show less
This Master thesis explores the relationship between migration and religious cults in the context of Roman imperial Ostia. By combining different academic disciplines, such as history, epigraphy,...Show moreThis Master thesis explores the relationship between migration and religious cults in the context of Roman imperial Ostia. By combining different academic disciplines, such as history, epigraphy, archeology and bio-archeology, this study aims at finding if foreign immmigrants in Ostia continued to practice their religious traditions in a community with others migrants.Show less
An investigation into the cult of Greek Nymphs in Archaic and Classical times with a focus on the popularity of the deities among different groups of people.
In this thesis, I will explore, on an intellectual and sensory level, the ways in which the night time was perceived and utilised in the context of ancient Greek warfare. By ascertaining what...Show moreIn this thesis, I will explore, on an intellectual and sensory level, the ways in which the night time was perceived and utilised in the context of ancient Greek warfare. By ascertaining what activities took place during the night time of the 4th century BC, in a military context, it will become possible to understand more about how the experience of the night was used and presented in antiquity. I will argue that far from being desolate and empty of human presence, the ancient night was a significant time for military activity and that it was in fact used in a variety of interesting ways that are not served by the rather simplistic image of nocturnal ‘colonisation’ presented in Histories of the Early Modern period.Show less
Grote culturele veranderingen brengen ook grote religieuse veranderingen. Dionysos groeide van een angstaanjagende natuurgod uit tot het middelpunt van sociale beschaving en persoonlijk genot. Wat...Show moreGrote culturele veranderingen brengen ook grote religieuse veranderingen. Dionysos groeide van een angstaanjagende natuurgod uit tot het middelpunt van sociale beschaving en persoonlijk genot. Wat zat hier achter?Show less
In this thesis, the main theme is the access to ancient Greek religion, specifically the access of women. Not everybody had access to every aspect of ancient Greek religion, and this thesis...Show moreIn this thesis, the main theme is the access to ancient Greek religion, specifically the access of women. Not everybody had access to every aspect of ancient Greek religion, and this thesis attempts to fill a historiographical gap by posing the question of why access was selective by examining women in the ancient Greek society. Important themes are impurity and fertility. Access was restricted because of the supposed impurity of women, while religious spaces and rituals should remain pure.Show less
Already during Antiquity, Egypt was famous for its royal mortuary monuments. During the millennia that have passed since the construction of these monuments, the meaning given to them by their...Show moreAlready during Antiquity, Egypt was famous for its royal mortuary monuments. During the millennia that have passed since the construction of these monuments, the meaning given to them by their spectators has altered several times. This study focusses on the interpretation and reuse of the Theban New Kingdom mortuary temples, the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings and the Old Kingdom pyramids at the Giza Plateau during the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods. Aim of this study is to show how these monuments were interpreted and reused by two different groups of spectators, namely the Graeco-Roman tourists, who came to see these monuments, and the native Egyptians, who lived in the vicinity of these buildings. Moreover, the ways in which the meaning given to these mortuary monuments during the Pharaonic Period survived into the Ptolemaic and Roman Periods, are discussed.Show less
