Artifacts from Ancient Rome

361 Pages·2014·7.13 MB·English

by  James B. T. Emmons Ph.D.

ArtifActs
from Ancient rome

ArtifActs
from Ancient rome
James B. Tschen-Emmons
Daily Life through Artifacts
copyright © 2014 by ABc-cLio, LLc
All rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
tschen-emmons, James B.
Artifacts from ancient rome / James B. tschen-emmons.
pages cm — (Daily life through artifacts)
includes bibliographical references and index.
isBn 978-1-61069-619-7 (hardback : alkaline paper) —
isBn 978-1-61069-620-3 (e-book) 1. rome—Antiquities.
2. rome—History. 3. rome—civilization. i. title.
DG77.t75 2014
937—dc23 2014014819
isBn: 978-1-61069-619-7
eisBn: 978-1-61069-620-3
18 17 16 15 14 1 2 3 4 5
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contents
Preface vii GROOMING, CLOTHING,
Acknowledgments xi AND ACCESSORIES
Introduction xiii
fibula 103
How to Evaluate Artifacts xix
Perfume Bottle 109
Chronology of Events xxv
Phalera 115
Portrait Bust 121
COMMUNICATIONS
razor 127
AND RECORD KEEPING
sandals 133
Abacus 3 strigil 139
calendar 9 Toga Praetexta 147
Graffiti  15
inkwell 21 HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
seal ring 27
cave canem mosaic 155
Wax tablet 33
Drainpipes 161
oil Lamp 169
COOKING AND FOOD
Public toilets 175
Amphora 41 sundial 181
Bread oven 47
cooking Pot 53 RELIGION AND FUNERARY
Dining couch 61 PRACTICES
Aedicule memorial 189
ENTERTAINMENT
Bulla 197
Dice and tavern Game Board 69 catacombs 203
Lyre 75 curse tablet 209
mosaic of a Boxer 81 Lar 215
theatrical mask 89 Sistrum 221
toys 95 Votive male torso 227
v
vi Contents
TOOLS AND WEAPONS TRANSPORTATION
Ballista 235 farm cart 275
coin mold 243 Horse Bit 281
fasces 249 milestone 287
Gladius 255 rostrum 295
scales and steelyard 261
scalpels and Bronze scissors 267 Select Bibliography 301
Index 315
PrefAce
Artifacts from Ancient Rome explores the history of 45 artifacts that cover
most areas of roman life, from dress to cooking, from dice games to
theater, from bakers’ ovens to the baths. chronologically, most of the ar-
tifacts covered here date to the last centuries BCE and the first centuries 
ce, but since many of these object types enjoyed long lives in the roman
world, they can tell us a great deal about the centuries before and after
this period too. in some respects, the age of the items is an accident of
history, of what has survived and what we have found. many, for exam-
ple, hail from the ashes of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the famous cities
buried by volcanic ash in 79 ce. these artifacts can act as primary
sources—that is, as documents written at the time—and can be used in
much the same way not only as windows into a culture, but also as exam-
ples and evidence in assignments. several things about these items may
be striking. some artifacts, such as razors, have changed little in the last
2,000 years; others, such as strigils, are no longer used or recognizable.
cosmetic containers are still much the same size; togas, on the other hand,
have been out of fashion in the Western world for centuries. thus, the
objects that people used in the past are at once familiar, since we are peo-
ple too, and foreign, since today’s world is so different in key ways from
that of rome.
ORGANIZATION
The book is organized into two chief sections. In the first section, there is an 
introduction that provides a brief examination of the period covered by the
artifacts within this volume. since many of the artifact types were in use for
decades, if not centuries, the introduction covers in broad strokes the ori-
gins of rome in the eighth century Bce to the retaking of italy by emperor
Justinian in the sixth century ce. the chronology of events, which sets out
selected dates and their significance, provides further information about this 
history. few of the individual artifacts, if any, in this book were in constant
use during the span of roman history, but each is representative of its type,
vii
viii Preface
and many objects had long histories. Votive offerings, such as the terra-cotta
male torso, were used by ancient patients in search of divine aid for centu-
ries and well after the roman world had transformed into the medieval
world.
there is also a “How to evaluate Artifacts” section that provides the
reader with tools for gaining a greater appreciation of the artifacts they will
encounter in the book and elsewhere. Artifacts, even when recognizable,
require us to interpret them. for example, the gladius, the legionary’s sword,
is recognizable as a sword, but there is much to learn from the materials
from which it was made as well as from its size, its shape, where it was
found, and who—if we know—carried it.
for each of the 45 entries in the second section there is an introduction, a
description of the artifact itself, and a discussion of its significance. Many 
artifacts are not well known and will thus open up areas of history not cov-
ered in many other works. each entry also has a list of sources for further
information and, where appropriate, internet sources. to the extent possi-
ble, each entry covers the span of that particular artifact’s use in the roman
world from its first appearance to its last, who used it, and why. One advan-
tage of this approach is that it provides a glimpse inside not only the general
culture, but also into individual lives. the aedicule memorial, for example,
is typical of its type but tells us specifically about a woman named Paccia 
Helpis.
Each entry explains and expands upon the cultural significance of the 
artifact depicted. Artifacts are divided into thematic categories and together
provide a composite look at daily life in ancient rome. the categories are
•  Communications and Record Keeping
•  Cooking and Food
•  Entertainment
•  Grooming, Clothing, and Accessories
•  Household Items
•  Religion and Funerary Practices
•  Tools and Weapons
•  Transportation
These categories make it easy to browse and to find associated artifacts. If 
one is interested in researching the lives of roman students, for example,
the section “Communications and Record Keeping” has several entries, 
such as “Wax tablet” and “inkwell” that reveal key aspects of student life.
i have cross-referenced sections and entries as well. for example, the “Wax
tablet” entry contains a cross-reference to the “Toga Praetexta” entry in the
“Grooming, clothing, and Accessories” section, as the toga entry covers
other aspects of young men’s lives, and the “Toga Praetexta” entry contains
Preface ix
a cross-reference to the “Bulla” entry. taken together, these entries provide
an examination of the lives of roman youths through the objects they used
every day.
In terms of what makes something significant or not, most artifacts are 
important for a variety of reasons; it depends on how one defines the term 
and in what context one works. in a work this size, it is not possible to cover
all the possible ways that any one item is significant as an object of history. 
Any author has to be selective, but in deciding what to focus upon, i have
opted in most cases for what follows most directly from the object itself.
for example, with the roman “milestone” entry the major topic is
transportation and how roman roads were so critical to the spread of peo-
ples, ideas, and products. on the other hand, some objects, such as sandals,
could be taken in different directions. one of the more iconic pieces of
footwear is the caliga, or legionary’s boot, so much of the significant sec-
tion for that entry focuses on footwear in the army and related military
equipment. in each case, however, there is a relationship between the arti-
fact and the chief significances discussed.
OTHER FEATURES
many entries also contain primary sources, excerpted and separated in side-
bars, that shed light on artifacts. this can be a powerful tool, for the study
of artifacts with associated primary sources and explanations is a multifac-
eted way to gain a tangible view of ancient life; it is a visual way of relating
to the past. After all, one can “read” an artifact as well as a primary source,
but to view an object as one reads a piece from the time that describes its use
or user evokes a clearer, more vivid idea of the past. these primary sources
are also excellent places to begin further study.
Other sidebars within entries may include short definitions of key terms 
or people. Words in Latin or Greek are translated, as are those few objects
with inscriptions. in translating the latter, i have opted to try to capture both
the feel of the Latin and a readable english version. inscriptions were highly
abbreviated and assumed a familiarity with conventions particular to writ-
ing succinctly on stone, so they make for challenging if interesting reading.
Words within brackets are supplied to help reader makes sense of
passages.
the value of this approach for students is twofold: they get all the bene-
fits of a reference work with explanations and mention of primary sources, 
but also they see, right there on the page, the very object that brings a par-
ticular aspect of the roman world to life. General readers with an interest in
ancient history will likewise benefit from this approach.