Current Dissertation Projects

Irene's dissertation approaches Greek sympotic literature of the first two centuries CE as a reflection of a unique branch of the sympotic tradition, rather than as a tool to learn about the classical symposium or contemporary Roman dining practices. She argues that the symposium was an integral elite institution at this time as well, with an acknowledgment of deep traditional roots but filled with fascinating new innovations, beliefs, and practices. The dissertation questions how the Greek elites of the early Roman empire used the symposium to their advantage, and why each element was beneficial for the banqueters. This analysis reveals multiple ways in which Greek elites positioned themselves and affirmed their identities relative to each other, to the lower classes, to elites of other communities, and to their own past. The use of food, drink, sexuality, and entertainment (music, philosophy, etc.) at the symposium all provide insight to the values upheld by these elites, and reflect on their anxieties about luxury, equality, piety, education, and above all, the sociability required to live in harmony in a world with such complicated social networks and power dynamics.

 

 

Danielle Perry

North African Identity under the Roman Empire  

Danielle’s project looks at material culture and textual sources to explore how North Africans responded to Roman power during the Late Republic and Imperial periods. By investigating phenomena such as religion, social structures, and naming customs she argues for a nuanced understanding of Roman-North African relations during this period and a reimagining of the traditional narrative around provincial assimilation into Roman society. This dissertation also takes seriously North African identity as separate from, though undoubtedly influenced by, Roman imperialism and thus engages with Punic-language sources from the region as well as any relevant Greek or Latin evidence. Ultimately, North Africa served as a landscape of colonialism and the people who lived there developed their own techniques for preserving their local cultures while being subjects of an empire.

 

 

Matthew Reichelt

The Elite Networks of the Seleucid Empire

In previous studies, the Seleucid Empire has been investigated through the perspectives of either the royal dynasty or the local communities under its control. However, in this dissertation, I argue that an alternative approach exists. Instead of focusing on the royal dynasty or local communities, I investigate the Seleucid Empire through the perspective of the imperial elites who inhabited the royal courts, served as garrison commanders, and managed estates. The imperial elites performing various roles formed an extensive network that spanned the length of the Seleucid Empire. This dissertation, by avoiding a top-down perspective, explores how the imperial elites interacted with members of the royal dynasty, other elites in the network, and the many different types of communities that they exercised influence over. I argue that such interactions had a wide range of outcomes for the imperial elites who attempted to acquire and maintain their social capital by various means within this competitive space. This dissertation relies upon a wide range of archaeological, epigraphic, numismatic, and literary sources. Each category of evidence offers a different perspective on the activities and behaviors of the imperial elites across the expanse of the Seleucid Empire.