Italy and Roman Provinces A

Teacher(s)

Cavalieri Marco;

Language

French

Main themes

The course discusses problematic issues and specific problems of interpretation in relation with use of archaeological sources for the reconstruction of social and political relations of Rome, since its fundation (8th century BC) up to the High Middle Age, Italy and Roman provinces. Especially considered are elements of urbanism, architecture and construction techniques in order to define a scheme of the Roman way of life throughout the ages.

Aims

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	Advanced course for archaeologists specializing in Roman archaeology whether of Italy, the centre of power, or of the provinces of the Empire. The aim is to develop a critical sense and apply methods of analysis of art (painting, sculpture and architecture) and material culture of this millennium long civilization reluctant of all standardized analytical approach. Use of theoretical and anthropological concepts in archaeological interpretation as well of literary and epigraphical sources of Latin Antiquity.

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.

Content

The main topic to be treated during the year 2018-2019 is the “Archaeology of the sacra privata in Italy and the Roman provinces (Ist-IVth centuries AD)”.
Evidence of religion in the domestic sphere is attested through three main categories: specific spaces in the Roman domus (the so-called lararia), painted images (showing the Genius, the Lares and/or the Penates) and the archaeological material (bronze figurines, tableware,…). Our attention will mainly focus on Rome and the Vesuvian sites, based on textual, epigraphic and archaeological evidence. In the second part, we will discuss a few case studies widespread throughout the Roman provinces. This course aims at understanding the “religious topography” of the Roman domus by analysing the places of worship, their forms, their settings and the domestic pantheons.

Teaching methods

A combination of ex-cathedra lessons by the teacher or invited speakers and seminars. The sessions are prepared by the students on the basis of one or more articles of which the list is given at the beginning of the year. The students are also invited to participate actively in certain sessions which may take the forms of seminars prepared by the students. Possibility to organize a study tour abroad  with presentations by students and introduction to field work.

Evaluation methods

Written examination.

Online resources

Pdf of Course and bibliography.

Bibliography

Bassani, M. (2008), Sacaria. Ambienti e piccoli edifici per il culto domestico in area vesuviana, Rome (Antenor Quaderni, 6). 
Flower, H. I. (2017), The Dancing Lares and the Serpent in the Garden. Religion at the Roman Street Corner, Princeton. 
Laforge, M.-A. (2009), La religion privée à Pompéi, Naples (Études du Centre Jean Bérard, 7). 
Van Andringa, W. (2009), Quotidien des Dieux et des hommes : la vie religieuse dans les cités du Vésuve à l'époque romaine, Paris (Bibliothèque des Écoles françaises d'Athènes et de Rome, 337).

Faculty or entity

ARKE