The evolution of Athenian discourses revolving around pederasty is being studied from a political angle, through the contextualization of said discourses into the political and social milieu of...Show moreThe evolution of Athenian discourses revolving around pederasty is being studied from a political angle, through the contextualization of said discourses into the political and social milieu of Athens, from the archaic to the classical period (7th- 4th c. B.C.), with an aim at understanding both the discourses themselves, as well as their thematic evolution, as products and constructs of the political realities of the polis.Show less
In older scholarship, it was often claimed that Christian martyrdom contributed significantly to the conversion of the Roman Empire. This assertion, however, has been significantly criticized in...Show moreIn older scholarship, it was often claimed that Christian martyrdom contributed significantly to the conversion of the Roman Empire. This assertion, however, has been significantly criticized in recent decades, so that conversion in response to witnessing acts of Christian martyrdom now appears to have been relatively minor. In order to both elaborate on and critically evaluate these criticisms, the present thesis compares a number of Christian and ‘pagan’ texts from the second and third centuries CE that deal with martyrdom and/or ‘noble death’. While the thesis pays attention to issues surrounding the scale on which martyrdom occurred and the extent to which witnessing the torture and execution of Christians may have inspired conversion, its main focus is on the importance of martyr texts to the Christianization of the Roman Empire. ‘Christianization’ here is used in a more general sense, and includes not only conversion, but also the formation of Christian (group)identity and the catechesis of new members. With regards to the possibility of Christian texts being used to convert outsiders or instruct the newly-initiated, the thesis works from the assumption that these ‘pagan’ audiences would have been more likely to adopt a favourable view of Christian martyrdom – and perhaps concomitantly, Christianity – insofar as its (literary) representations presented it as similar to noble death. Simultaneously, the thesis argues that Christian martyr texts contain several unique elements, principally religious in character, that allowed them to out-live ‘pagan’ noble death traditions like that of the Acta Alexandrinorum. These shared and unique aspects are recovered through an in-depth analysis and comparison of a number of Christian and ‘pagan’ texts. All in all, the findings of the thesis generally agree with earlier revisionist publications, and suggest that conversion induced by martyrdom was rare, and that the importance of martyr texts to Early Christianity mostly lay in their ability to provide Christian groups with powerful communities identities and moral exemplars.Show less
Much is unknown about Hadrian's lover Antinous and the success of the cult that was founded after Antinous' death. This thesis answers the question of why the cult of Antinous was successful after...Show moreMuch is unknown about Hadrian's lover Antinous and the success of the cult that was founded after Antinous' death. This thesis answers the question of why the cult of Antinous was successful after the death of Antinous, and why it persisted even after Hadrian's death. With the use of epigraphical, archaeological, numismatic, and papyrological evidence, the thesis has concluded that the widespread use of Antinous' likeness, as well as his ties to his place of birth and place of death, had an impact on the success of the cult. The cult likely thrived too because of spontaneous veneration of Rome's subjects, as well as the aid of grassroots initiatives.Show less
I examine the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, the first of the Mauryan Emperors. It focuses on Chandragupta’s kingship within an Indian context by turning its focus away from the frequent comparisons...Show moreI examine the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, the first of the Mauryan Emperors. It focuses on Chandragupta’s kingship within an Indian context by turning its focus away from the frequent comparisons made between Indian and Western (read Greco-Roman) rulers. I examine the ways in which Chandragupta was able to maintain his authority and ensure the obedience of his subjects so successfully when his more established predecessors had failed so miserably. I conclude by referring to my original research aim, one that looked to explore how Chandragupta and Kautilya administered the Mauryan Empire and maintained the support and obedience of the Indian people despite exploiting their subjects to a similar extent as the universally despised Dhana Nanda. Kautilya’s Brahmanical-political theology depicted an unrealistic portrayal of a paternalistic king, albeit one who was more than willing to revert to the use of danda than his subjects would hope. Its influence on Mauryan policy was felt more in the autonomy it gave Chandragupta to act amorally, utilising apaddharma whenever he felt it necessary. The emphasis on universal artha gave way, as Chandragupta based his actions around the idea that the ‘the artha of the king and his associates alone is supreme’. Chandragupta prioritized internal security to the extent that peripheral regions of the Empire were isolated and their economic development stunted while Pataliputra and its citizens benefitted from the policy of expansion and exploitation.Show less
This thesis researches the failed Romanization of first-century Judaea. It interprets this period by using Millett's theory on Romanization to research the development of the indigenous elites of...Show moreThis thesis researches the failed Romanization of first-century Judaea. It interprets this period by using Millett's theory on Romanization to research the development of the indigenous elites of Judaea and their role in the causes of the Jewish War in 67-70CE.Show less
Het werkstuk richt zich op de mens-dier relaties tussen mens en hond binnen de antieke Griekse en Romeinse samenlevingen. Hierbij wordt gekeken naar mogelijke functionele en symbolische relaties.
The purpose of this study is to examine the foreign policy of the Greek city-state of Syracuse between the second half of the fifth and the first half of the fourth centuries BC, and in particular...Show moreThe purpose of this study is to examine the foreign policy of the Greek city-state of Syracuse between the second half of the fifth and the first half of the fourth centuries BC, and in particular from the beginning of the Peloponnesian War in 431 BC, to the death of Dionysius the Elder in 367 BC. This study is specifically focused on ancient contemporary as well as modern perceptions of Syracuse as an imperialist, expansionist power. The study aims to demonstrate that Syracuse was a typical city-state which to a large extent reacted to external events and pursued a limited and modest foreign policy aimed at preserving the city in light of an increasingly unstable political environment, while occasionally taking advantage of unique opportunities to pursue limited expansion. By the end of the study, the reader should be able to discern the bias of ancient authors, understand their motivations, and form a more pragmatic and realistic assessment of Syracusan foreign policy. It will be demonstrated that Syracuse was a typical city-state with limited resources, and well-defined, consistent goals, as opposed to the more adventurous imperialistic and at times opportunistic goals ascribed to Syracuse by authors influenced by Classical Athenian imperialism. It will be shown how and why Syracuse fell short of the exaggerated expectations of friend and foe alike, concerning the city’s capabilities and the role which it was envisaged playing in various regions of the Classical world.Show less
