Ancient History, Greek and Roman through Late Antiquity Commons^™

The Aesthetics Of Storytelling And Literary Criticism As Mythological Ritual: The Myth Of The Human Tragic Hero, Intertextual Comparisons Between The Heroes And Monsters Of Beowulf And The Anglo-Saxon Exodus, Daniel Stoll

Undergraduate Honors Theses

For thousands of years, people have been hearing, reading, and interpreting stories and myths in light of their own experience. To read a work by a different author living in a different era and setting, people tend to imagine works of literature to be something they are not. To avoid this fateful tendency, I hope to elucidate what it means to read a work of literature and interpret it: love it to the point of wanting to foremost discuss its excellence of being a piece of art. Rather than this being a defense, I would rather call it a musing, …

On A Defense Of Democracy: How Roman Delatores And Emperors Dismantled Libertas And Established The Principate In The Early Roman Empire, Justin R. Scott

Honors Bachelor of Arts

Precis

My thesis argues that the delatores’ legal and political actions restricted political freedom and cemented a shift in authority from the Roman Senate to the Roman Emperor. This thesis utilizes primary works from Cicero, Dio, Pliny the Younger, Quintilian, Suetonius, and works from Tacitus, that had lived under the times when the delatores held the most power and influence over Rome. I also include secondary scholarship about how historians have understood the impact of the delatores on the Roman political and legal systems, all of which explain who the delatores were and how they impacted Roman society after …

The Galileo Affair In Context: An Investigation Of Influences On The Church During Galileo’S 1633 Trial, Evan W. Lamping

Honors Bachelor of Arts

This paper explores the context of the 1616 trial of Galileo within the history of the geocentric and heliocentric theories of the solar system, as well as some factors that may have initiated this trial or influenced the result. Some of these factors include the criticism of contemporary Reformers, Galileo’s relationship with the Pope, and recently uncovered Vatican documents accusing Galileo of atomism. These last two are found in Pietro Redondi’s book Galileo Eretico, which alleges that Pope Urban VIII spared Galileo by having him investigated for holding heliocentric views, instead of letting him face potential charges of heresy …

Malaria Risk On Ancient Roman Roads: A Study And Application To Assessing Travel Decisions In Asia Minor By The Apostle Paul, Daniel C. Browning Jr

Master's Theses

This study models malaria risks for travelers on ancient Roman roads with the goal of providing a tool for historical assessment of travel accounts from antiquity. The project includes: identification of malaria risk factors and associated spatial datasets, malaria risk model construction, verification and validation against available pre-eradication data, overlay of ancient Roman road data, and an initial case-study application to the journeys of the Apostle Paul, as narrated in the New Testament book, Acts of the Apostles (Acts). The project is intentionally cross-disciplinary in bringing the technical capabilities of GIS to the task of evaluating nuanced textual sources for …

The Impact Of Ancient Doctor-Patient Relationship Standards On Modern Bedside Manner, James P. Stebbins

Honors Bachelor of Arts

Precis

An examination of the oaths surrounding the doctor-patient relationships in the healthcare systems of antiquity, as well as those of the early Medieval period and modernity, reveals that the modern concept of bedside manner is one with roots throughout history, and has changed according to the predominant religion of the time. This is done by comparing the oaths taken by physicians across these periods, and examining how they outline the tenets of the relationship between a patient and their healthcare provider. I also provide examples of religious beliefs and how they interact with medical practice to show how bedside …

The Campaigns Of Alexander: How Arrian’S Character Of Alexander Influences How He Is Portrayed In Writing, Peyton M. Myers

Young Historians Conference

Historians have long been discussing and analyzing Arrian's The Campaigns of Alexander, and not just for it's valuable and rare insights on the life of Alexander the Great. In his books, Arrian appears to have a more apologetic approach when writing about Alexander. It leads the reader into thinking Alexander was a better man than he actually might have been. In this paper, I take a look at five different authors-- both fictional and nonfictional-- and how they portrayed Alexander the Great as a person. Each of the authors wrote Alexander as a noble and just person, highlighting his …

Senatorial Bias In The Portrayal Of Gaius Caligula, Haley E. Stark

Young Historians Conference

Caligula is one of the most infamous names in history, often ranked among the likes of Stalin and Ivan the Terrible. His most outrageous acts include threatening to make his horse a senator and having incestous relationships with his three sisters. But is this truly how Caligula behaved? This paper explores the possibility that Caligula was not the monster he was made out to be, but the victim of a hostile Senate that used historians to slander the emperor at all costs.

Epictetus’ Enchiridion And The Influence On Women, Eloise C. Schell

Young Historians Conference

The Enchiridion, attributed to the ancient Stoic philosopher Epictetus, has been interpreted in many ways since its creation nearly two thousand years ago. This research explores the ways in which Epictetus’ teachings in the Enchiridion, although not originally intended for women, have influenced women throughout history. Not only are the interpretations relating to gender different from the intended purpose of the text, but also the way that the Enchiridion has influenced women has changed over time. In some cases the Enchiridion was used to reinforce power differentials between genders and, in others, it was cited in support of female independence. …

Teaching And Testing Textual Analysis In Reacting To The Past: Thucydides And Jigsaw Method Discussion, Cary Barber

Q2S Enhancing Pedagogy

The activity this work presents is designed to both strengthen and evaluate students’ ability to think critically about ancient texts within a Reacting to the Past gaming environment (specifically in the game ‘The Threshold of Democracy: Athens in 403 B.C.’). The activity is part of a preliminary set of assignments meant to improve students’ sense of the game’s historical, social, political, economic, and religious context. Moreover, the activity helps to ensure that students can incorporate texts appropriately into speeches, writings, and general gameplay.

Using the Jigsaw Method of discussion, I organize students into ‘numbered’ (I, II, III, etc.) groups of …

Between The Judean Desert And Gaza: Asceticism And The Monastic Communities Of Palestine In The Sixth Century, Austin Mccray

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The dissertation focuses on the religious culture of Christian monasticism in sixth-century Palestine. Rather than see the monastic communities of the Judean Desert, just to the east of Jerusalem, and those around Gaza as two independent monastic regions, as much scholarship has done, the dissertation focuses on the common threads that can be seen in the monastic teachings and idealized ascetic practices in the literature of the area. This dissertation reveals ways to redefine the boundaries between the monastic communities of Palestine during the sixth century as well as emphasizes the continuities between the monks of the Judean Desert and …

"The Greatest In Human Memory": Reevaluating The Lydia Earthquake Of 17 A.D., Maxwell John Shiller

Undergraduate Honors Papers

When Rome formally established the province of Asia in 129 B.C., solidifying its recognition as the new political authority was a complex issue. Three Roman civil wars raged, republicanism was destroyed, and Emperor Augustus ushered in the newly-minted Roman Empire. Choosing the right side during these volatile times was a dangerous affair. Following the firm establishment of the Roman Empire under the victorious Augustus, however, Imperial authority could rightfully promise stability for the provincials of Asia under Roman governance. The gears of political change began to wheel about in Asia as Imperial officials superseded provincial Greek magistrates. From the Roman …

Sagp Newsletter 2019/20.4 Pacific Division, Anthony Preus

The Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy Newsletter

SAGP Panel for the APA Pacific Division April 8, 2020

Winning Hearts And Minds: Tactics Of Insurgency And Counterinsurgency In The Early Roman Empire, Wesley C. Cline

Student Publications

The most common strategy for "Romanizing" a province was through developing connections with elites in the indigenous society coupled with (in many cases) the inclusion of regional gods into the Roman pantheon. These ties were cemented as Romans adopted the provincial religious deities and the sons of prominent locals were sent to Rome for the finest education of the day. This system allowed for relative stability in the provinces, particularly when the Roman provincial governor was sensitive to local customs. What about those indigenous people whose goals conflicted with those of Rome? How does one combat a monolithic power with …

Experiential Learning: Museum Of Ontario Archaeology And The Vindolanda Field School, Victoria Burnett

SASAH 4th Year Capstone and Other Projects: Presentations

Focusing first on the Museum of Ontario Archaeology, the slides are meant to illustrate the program PastPerfect that I had learned how to use during my time there, as well as a snippet of the Maple Harvest blog post I had written, wherein I would explain the value I had found in writing it and the comments that the Curator made in returning it to me before publishing it. After that is a slide where I would explain the Google Arts and Culture page, what the plans were for me to contribute to it a bit as well as the …

Report On The Museum Of Ontario Archaeology Cel And The Vindolanda Field School, Victoria Burnett

SASAH 4th Year Capstone and Other Projects: Publications

In this report, Burnett discusses her experiences as an intern with the Museum of the Ontario Archaeology, and the opportunities she received taking part in the Vindolanda Field School. Having worked in the heritage field in various capacities for six years, Burnett found it to be immensely valuable to build upon her skills of research, critical thinking, and collaboration. Specifically, in the case of archaeology and museum-based conservation, Burnett focused her analysis on the differences between the practices in Ontario and in England as she experienced them at a variety of institutions and sites. Aside from this, the informational and …

The Woman's Role In Human Reproduction And Generation According To Ancient Greek And Roman Philosophers, Olivia Miller

Honors Theses

From the Greek archaic period to the end of the Roman Empire, theories of reproduction and inheritance developed as new philosophers and medical practitioners tackled fundamental issues of generation and sex. Without tools to help them see the complex chemical and cellular processes of the body, ancient thinkers relied on their own observations and commonly-held beliefs about sex and gender to understand the human body. Until the Roman Empire, dissections and similar forms of clinical study were strictly taboo, with the result that the Greek philosophers could not conduct close investigations into human anatomy. Instead, they relied on their own …

Gems Of Gods And Mortals: The Changing Symbolism Of Pearls Throughout The Roman Empire, Emily Hallman

Armstrong Undergraduate Journal of History

Born in the wombs of shells and polished by mother nature herself, pearls were regarded as gifts from the gods. For millennia, the creation of pearls was credited to the tears of heavenly creatures or the formation of sun-touched dewdrops. Countless civilizations, both Western and Non-Western, have their own myths and legends surrounding the pearl, a mark of their mysterious allure. The artform of jewelry, favored by the Roman aristocracy, took advantage of naturally perfected pearls to create stunning pieces with staggering prices. The pearl’s meaning evolved throughout the Roman Empire and into Early Christian Rome, setting up a contradictory …

Divining Gospel. Oracles Of Interpretation In A Syriac Manuscript Of John, Jeff Childers

Graduate School of Theology

Ancient manuscripts of John’s Gospel containing hermeneiai have long puzzled scholars, provoking debate about their origins, purpose, and use. The fragmentary nature of the early evidence has impeded progress towards a better understanding of these specialized books. The present study shows that these books are "Divining Gospels"—editions of John’s Gospel incorporating lot divination materials for use in fortune-telling. The study centers on material presented here for the first time: the text and translation of a unique sixth-century Syriac manuscript, the earliest and most complete example of a hermeneia Gospel. An analysis of the Syriac along with evidence from Greek, Coptic, …

Sagp Newsletter 2019/20.3 Central Division, Anthony Preus

The Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy Newsletter

SAGP Panel at the Central Division of the American Philosophical Association, February 27, 2020

Failures Of Grace: Limits Of Tragedy In The Late Nineteenth-Century Novel, Anick S. Rolland

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Failures of Grace argues that nineteenth-century novelists challenge the hegemonies of literary form and the value of personal suffering through what I call the trans-genre tragic novel. This new form is emblematic of a period in which values hang in the balance and places traditional values at odds with themselves by combining the low form of the novel with the highest mimetic mode in the Western tradition: tragedy. It simultaneously proposes the most vulnerable members of society as tragic heroes in contrast to the noble figures who previously were presumed to define the genre.

Through close readings of works by …

Sagp Newsletter 2019/20.2 Scs And Eastern Division Programs, Anthony Preus

The Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy Newsletter

SAGP Panels for the meetings of the Society for Classical Studies and the Eastern Division of the American Philosophical Association for January 2020

The Proto-Portraiture Of North Etruscan Cinerary Urns And The Philosophy Of Elite Self-Worth, Sydney Kennedy

Undergraduate Research Awards

The Etruscans did not leave behind a written philosophy on the self, but their funerary culture communicates a value placed on identity in their society. In the Orientalizing period of North Etruria, elites conveyed their status with idealized representation of themselves on cinerary urns. Due to limited outside influences, their emphasis on personhood must originate from an indigenous relationship between status and physicality that began in the Villanovan period. While the reasoning behind why they elevated their individualism with proto-portraiture is uncertain, the attention to individualization coincides with a simultaneous need for the visibility of the elite self. In the …

Gynecology In Antiquity, Kristen Cross

Classics Ancient Science Fair

The field of Gynecology has had major shifts through its history. It began with the expansion of duties for Midwives and a wide variety of schools of thought continued to advise its growth. This presentation discusses the ancient thoughts, their origins, and its many outdated beliefs.

The Ancient Greek Trireme: A Staple Of Ancient Maritime Tradition, Joseph York

Classics Ancient Science Fair

This poster presented information on the Greek Trireme. The Ancient Greek Trireme was a staple ship of Greek naval warfare, and played a key role in the Persian Wars, the creation of the Athenian maritime empire, and the Peloponnesian wars.

Finding Pythagoras In The Pythagoreans, Brandon Barnes

Classics Ancient Science Fair

This presentation for the Ancient Science Fair deals with the Pythagorean Theorem. Since Pythagoras himself did not write down his work, early scholars had to work to find the knowledge and unify it among differing sources.

Archimedes Catapult, Dominick West

Classics Ancient Science Fair

This presentation discusses various weapons used in the past. It starts with discussions of the belly bow, torsion springs, and catapults that use the spring.

The Antikythera Mechanism, Aladsair Turnbull

Classics Ancient Science Fair

The mechanism was retrieved from a shipwreck off the coast of Antikythera in 1901. The structure of the mechanism was the subject of debate among scholars for many years after the initial discovery. Little is known about the maker of the device and there is still disagreement regarding certain pieces of the mechanism. Close study of the fragments allowed many models to be designed.

The Cosmos According To Ptolemy, Benjamin Smith

Classics Ancient Science Fair

In the second century AD, Claudius Ptolemaeus, the astronomer from Alexandria, would provide a geometric conception of the cosmos with the ability to predict planetary motion, in what would be known as the Ptolemaic, or Geocentric, Model of the Universe. Prior to Ptolemy, the notion in ancient astronomy was that the cosmos was ”perfect”; the heavenly bodies must move along the perfect curve (a circle) as the perfect shape (a sphere). Yet, irregularities occur in observing the planets in concentric circles alone. Ptolemy’s answer, building upon Hipparchus and Aristotle, would present an eccentric system in which the heavenly bodies move …

Pliny The Younger & Mt. Vesuvius, Taylor Huxlrey

Classics Ancient Science Fair

Pliny the Younger's letters painted a beautiful picture of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. His letters are thought to have allowed modern volcanoligists to discover information about the eruption and the destruction of Pompeii. This presentation discusses how impactful these letters truly were.

Evolution Of Surgery And Surgical Instruments In Science, Shelbi Royster

Classics Ancient Science Fair

The professionalism of the medical field developed in ancient Greece through the Hippocratic Corpus. This is one of first Greek writings on medical practices and the tools associated with different medical practices as well. Although medicine and its practices were defined from different writers, the medical field was not a popular profession to enter in the Greek world. Educational occupations such as philosophy were more sought after, especially with superstitions of the Greeks.