Classical Archaeology and Art History Commons^™

By The Power Vesta-Ed In Me: The Power Of The Vestal Virgins And Those Who Took Advantage Of It, Elena M. Stanley

Classical Mediterranean and Middle East Honors Projects

Vestal Virgins were high ranking members of the Roman elite. Due to the priestesses’ elevated standing, Romans made use of their inherent privileges. Through analyses of case studies from ancient authors and archaeology, I identify three ways Romans wielded Vestal power: familial connections, financial and material resources, and political sway. I end by exploring cases of crimen incesti, the crime of unchastity, which highlight all three forms. The Vestals were influential women who shared access to power in different ways. The Vestals were active participants in the social and political world of Rome.

Preliminary Report On The 2018 Field Season Of The American Excavations At Morgantina: Contrada Agnese Project (Cap), Christy Schirmer, D. Alex Walthall, Andrew Tharler, Elizabeth Wueste, Benjamin Crowther, Randall Souza, Jared Benton, Jane Millar

Art Faculty Publications

In its sixth season, the American Excavations at Morgantina: Contrada Agnese Project (CAP) continued archaeological investigations inside the House of the Two Mills, a modestly-appointed house of Hellenistic date located near the western edge of the ancient city of Morgantina. This report gives a phase-by-phase summary of the significant discoveries from the 2018 excavation season, highlighting the architectural development of the building as well as evidence for the various activities that took place there over the course of its occupation.

Preliminary Report On The 2017 Season Of The American Excavations At Morgantina: Contrada Agnese Project (Cap), Andrew Tharler, D. Alex Walthall, Elizabeth Wueste, Christy Schirmer, Ben Crowther, Jared Benton, Randall Souza, Katharine P.D. Huemoeller

Art Faculty Publications

In its fifth season, the American Excavations at Morgantina: Contrada Agnese Project (CAP) continued archaeological investigations inside the Southeast Building, a modestly-appointed house of Hellenistic date located near the western edge of the city. The 2016 CAP season had revealed the full extent of the property’s boundary walls and allowed us to propose a cohesive phasing scheme for the building’s construction, occupation, and abandonment. We suggested that the house was occupied for approximately 60-75 years, beginning in the second quarter of the third century BCE. The 2017 CAP excavations resolved a number of remaining questions, particularly those concerning the phasing …

A Silver Service And A Gold Coin, Justin St. P. Walsh

Art Faculty Articles and Research

The published history of a set of silver and gold objects acquired by the J. Paul Getty Museum in 1975 contains an unusual reference to a gold coin, supposedly found with the set but not purchased by the museum. The coin, which is both rare and well dated, ostensibly offers a date and location for the ancient deposition of the silver service. Almost five years of research into the stories of the Getty objects and the coin has revealed important information about these particular items, but it also offers a cautionary example for scholars who might hope to reconstruct the …

Failure At Fidenae: Visualization And Analysis Of The Largest Structural Disaster In The Roman World, Rebecca Napolitano

Physics, Astronomy and Geophysics Honors Papers

A digital reconstruction of the amphitheater at Fidenae, which collapsed in 27 A.D., was produced as a result of textual, architectural, archaeological, and engineering analysis. Primary literary sources, such as Tacitus and Suetonius, examined in conjunction with proximal archaeological evidence, allowed for the most probable seating capacity and the scale of the amphitheater to be determined. Architectural evidence of other wooden structures found on Trajan’s Column allowed for a most probable projection of a three dimensional model to be created using AutoCAD. With this most probable model determined, engineering analysis was utilized in order to understand the failure at Fidenae …

"Future City In The Heroic Past: Rome, Romans, And Roman Landscapes In Aeneid 6–8", Eric Kondratieff

History Faculty Publications

From the Intro: “Arms and the Man I sing…” So Vergil begins his epic tale of Aeneas, who overcomes tremendous obstacles to find and establish a new home for his wandering band of Trojan refugees. Were it metrically possible, Vergil could have begun with “Cities and the Man I sing,” for Aeneas’ quest for a new home involves encounters with cities of all types: ancient and new, great and small, real and unreal. These include Dido’s Carthaginian boomtown (1.419–494), Helenus’ humble neo-Troy (3.349–353) and Latinus’ lofty citadel (7.149–192). Of course, central to his quest is the destiny of Rome, whose …

Roman Baths At Antiochia Ad Cragum: A Preliminary Evaluation Of Bath Architecture As Social Signals In The Ancient Mediterranean World, Holly J. Staggs

Anthropology Department: Theses

In Rough Cilicia, monumental public architecture was built in the initial phase of the social and political formation of Asia Minor into the Roman Empire during the Imperial Period. As bathing complexes are the most abundant and diverse types of architecture in this region, it would be beneficial to analyze the role of the baths along with their importance in this new Greco-Roman society. This study will focus on two baths at the site of Antiochia ad Cragum, seating this effort in multi-level signaling theory to understand local scale patterning and revised world systems theory to understand regional scale patterning. …

All Roads Lead Through Rome: Imperial Armatures On The Triumphal Route, Machal E. Gradoz

Classical Mediterranean and Middle East Honors Projects

The cityscape of ancient Rome was filled with opulent buildings that created armatures— fluid, connective thoroughfares throughout the city. These armatures came together to form narrative pathways. The triumphal route, the memorialized, celebratory course of victorious generals, is one such narrative pathway. Among other strategies to legitimize his sole rule, Augustus constructed a self-promoting armature along the triumphal route, thereby linking him with the triumph. This paper examines how the construction of the Augustan armature along the triumphal route promoted Augustus and how the Flavians responded to it in advertising their own legitimacy in the wake of a civil war. …

Metallurgy In The Roman Forts Of Scotland: An Archaeological Analysis, Scott S. Stetkiewicz

Honors Projects

Investigates the presence of metalworking in thirty-seven Roman forts in Scotland during the Flavian, Antonine, and Severan occupations largely through analysis of published documentation concerning relevant archaeological excavations.

Summary Report For The 2010 Season, Mark Schuler

Excavation Reports

In 2010, excavation work concentrated on the area east of the domus of the North-East Church between Cardo 3 North and Cardo 4 North. This area may be the remains of a palatial home of a prominent citizen of the city. If our hypothesis holds true, the house would be some 375 m2 plus a garden to the north.1 In addition to the architecture revealed in 2010, small finds raise interesting questions about the use of the area and about the religious life of the community in the Byzantine period. This report will detail work done in three areas and …

Summary Report For The 2009 Season, Mark Schuler

Excavation Reports

In 2009, excavation work continued on areas surrounding the domus of the North-East Church complex, areas west of Cardo 2 North, and expanded into areas east of the line of Cardo 3 North. Significant conservation work stabilized and reconstructed weakened walls. In addition, a survey team conducted a 3D digital scan of the excavation as part of permanent record of work to date. This report will address work done in the following areas:

• The Paved Plaza west of Cardo 2 North
• A possible Second Plaza west of Cardo 2 North
• Spaces east of Cardo 3 North
• West of Cardo 3 …

Summary Report For The 2008 Season, Mark Schuler

Excavation Reports

In 2008, excavation work continued on areas surrounding the domus of the North-East Church complex and expanded into areas west of Cardo 2 North. In addition, probes to bedrock were conducted in several areas of the site. Conservation efforts were completed on F538 in the north aisle and F580 in the skeuophylakion. This report will address work done in the following areas:

• Cardo 2 North (“Via Sacra”) and Related Buildings
• Structures to the South of the South Hall and the Diakonikon
• The Areas West of the Portico
• Probe in the Nave
• The Eastern Street and Related Buildings
• Conservation Efforts

Summary Report For The 2007 Season, Mark Schuler

Excavation Reports

In 2007, excavation work continued on areas surrounding the domus of the North-East Church complex, exposed the west street south to the Decumanus Maximus, continued conservation, cleaning, and documentation of the nave mosaic carpets (F544 and F589), and concluded study of the human remains from the masonry tomb. This report will address work done in the following areas:

• The Masonry Tomb
• The South Hall and Related Chambers
• The Chambers West of the Portico
• The Western Street (“Via Sacra”) and Related Buildings
• The Eastern Street and Related Buildings
• The Nave Mosaics
• Conservation

Summary Report For The 2006 Season, Mark Schuler

Excavation Reports

In 2006, excavation continued work on areas surrounding the domus of the North-East Church complex, completed work on the masonry tomb, and continued conservation and cleaning of the earlier nave mosaic (F544). This report will address work done in the following areas: •

• The North Gate Area
• The Southern Street
• The South Hall and Related Chambers
• The Chambers West of the Portico
• Cistern D
• The Masonry Tomb
• The Nave Mosaic

Summary Report For The 2005 Season, Mark Schuler

Excavation Reports

In 2005, excavation focused on areas surrounding the domus of the Northeast Church complex and on conservation of the nave mosaic. This report will address in turn work done in:

• A. The northern chambers
• B. The south vaulted chamber
• C. Chambers west of the portico
• D. The cisterns of the Northeast Church complex
• E. Conservation work

The Column And Coinage Of C. Duilius: Innovations In Iconography In Large And Small Media In The Middle Republic, Eric Kondratieff

History Faculty Publications

"[From the conclusion]: This discussion presents a linked series of hypotheses, each one suggested in its turn by evidence relating directly to C. Duilius (cos. 260), and contextualized by near-contemporary precedents wherever possible, or relevant-seeming analogues from slightly later periods. Taken together, these hypotheses support a plausible scenario in which the elogium on Duilius’ rostral column may be read not only as an account of a cunning and audacious commander whose pioneering efforts in naval warfare destroyed the myth of Carthaginian supremacy at sea, but also as an encomium on a generous benefactor to Rome’s citizenry. The inscription’s redactor has …

Summary Report For The 2004 Season, Mark Schuler

Excavation Reports

In 2004, systematic excavation completed exposure of the final phase of the domus of the Northeast Church and began work on the northern rooms and the atrium. This report will address in turn work done in:

• A. The tombs in the chancel (L533 and L537)
• B. The nave
• C. The north aisle
• D. The North Lateral Chamber
• E. The atrium

Summary Report For The 2003 Season, Mark Schuler

Excavation Reports

In 2003, systematic excavation exposed most of the domus of the Northeast Church. This report will address in turn work done in:

• A. The south aisle (L524)
• B. The north aisle (L542)
• C. Northern rooms outside the domus (L536)
• D. The chancel and apse (L504, L507, L518)
• E. The tombs in the chancel (L533 and L537)

Summary Report For The 2002 Season, Mark Schuler

Excavation Reports

In 2002 a limited survey excavation attempted to ascertain the dimensions of the Northeast Church. The following discussion summarizes excavations in the apse (L504), the exterior to the southeast corner (L503), the exterior to the southwest corner (L505), the eastern end of the south aisle (L506) and a burial at the eastern end of the south aisle (L507, L508).