Confronting Identities in the Roman Empire
Assumptions about the Other in Literary Evidence
Published on 26. June 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-1-350-35401-2 (ISBN)
Description
Drawing together new research from emerging and senior scholars, this open-access volume presents an up-to-date discussion of these notions in the ancient world, both at the individual and community level. This open access edited volume offers insights into how ancient texts, ranging from the historical and biographical to the oratorical and epistolary, demonstrate the negotiation and renegotiation of otherness, identity and culture.
Roman identity emerged as the result of multiple interactions with real and imagined Others. This volume analyses specific case studies and networks of inclusion and transformation that informed concepts of unity, otherness and cultural identity. In part one, contributors discuss Roman perceptions of communal identity, considering ethnic, geographical, religious, occupational and social factors that informed various ideas of belonging and exclusion. Part two goes further by examining ancient texts from the perspectives of non-Romans, in addition to famous Roman figures who deviated from traditional models of identity.
The ebook editions of this book are available under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com.
Roman identity emerged as the result of multiple interactions with real and imagined Others. This volume analyses specific case studies and networks of inclusion and transformation that informed concepts of unity, otherness and cultural identity. In part one, contributors discuss Roman perceptions of communal identity, considering ethnic, geographical, religious, occupational and social factors that informed various ideas of belonging and exclusion. Part two goes further by examining ancient texts from the perspectives of non-Romans, in addition to famous Roman figures who deviated from traditional models of identity.
The ebook editions of this book are available under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com.
Reviews / Votes
The volume can be easily consulted because it is open access and clearly offers a wide range of well-written contributions on otherness. Thus, the individual papers will be a fruitful resource for anyone researching otherness in the Roman Empire. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
573 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-35401-2 (9781350354012)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Jose Luis Brandao is Associate Professor in Classic Studies at the University of Coimbra, Portugal, and Researcher at the Centre for Classic and Humanistic Studies (CECH) and PI of the BioRom Project (2018-22).
Claudia Teixeira is Associate Professor of Literature at the University of Evora, Portugal, and Researcher at the Centre for Classic and Humanistic Studies (CECH), University of Coimbra and co-PI of the BioRom Project (2018-22).
Alia Rodrigues is Researcher at the Centre for Classic and Humanistic Studies (CECH), University of Coimbra, Portugal and Postdoctoral Fellow of the BioRom Project (2018-21).
Claudia Teixeira is Associate Professor of Literature at the University of Evora, Portugal, and Researcher at the Centre for Classic and Humanistic Studies (CECH), University of Coimbra and co-PI of the BioRom Project (2018-22).
Alia Rodrigues is Researcher at the Centre for Classic and Humanistic Studies (CECH), University of Coimbra, Portugal and Postdoctoral Fellow of the BioRom Project (2018-21).
Content
Introduction: Jose Luis Lopes Brandao (University of Coimbra, Portugal), Claudia Teixeira (University of Evora, Portugal) and Alia Rodrigues (University of Coimbra, Portugal)
Part I: Confronting Identities: Othering Communities and Groups
1. Performing Identities in Rome's Western Provinces Louise Revell (University of Southampton, UK)
2. Decolor Heres: Dark Skin in the Roman Cultural Imagination Mario Lentano (University of Siena, Italy)
3. Cicero on Foreign Religious Images and Practices Claudia Beltrao (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
4. Where Reason Could Not Prevail: Barbarian Othering and Diplomatic Double-Standards Caesar's Commentarii De Bello Gallico Ralph Moore (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland)
5. Non Idem Esse Romani et Graeci: Varro's De Re Rustica and the Integration of the Roman World Selena Ross (Rutgers University, USA)
6. Pirate Alterity in Plutarch. The Roman Influence on the Construction of the Autre Pirate in the Moralia Francisco Martinez (University of Sevilla, Spain)
7. Contra mores maiorum: Barbarian Women Prisoners During the Principate and the High Empire Denis Alvarez Perez-Sostoa (University of The Basque Country, Spain)
8. Dio of Prusa's Get? In the Context of the Ethnographic Production of his Age Paolo Desideri (University of Florence, Italy)
9. News from a Mundus Senescens: Romans, Visigoths and Saxons in a Letter by Sidonius Apollinaris (viii 6) Filomena Giannotti (University of Siena, Italy)
10. The Geography of Otherness in the Roman Empire: Exile and Belonging Eleni Bozia (University of Florida, USA)
Part II: Confronting Identities: Othering Individuals
11. The Use of Wet-Nurses in Ancient Rome as a Way of Rupturing the Mores Pedro D. Conesa Navarro (University of Murcia - University of Oviedo, Spain) and Sara Casamayor Mancisidor (University of La Rioja, Spain)
12. Greek Lawgiver in the Epitome of Pompeius Trogus: Justin's Account of Lycurgus Martina Gatto (University of Rome, Italy)
13. Sophonisba or the Construction of Other Women Nuno Simoes Rodrigues (University of Lisbon, Portugal)
14. Self-Perception in the Construction of the Other: Case-Study of Roman Portrayal of Viriatus, Arminius and Boudica Ruben Henrique de Castro (NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal)
15. Novel Gifts: Imperial Self-Fashioning from Non-Normative Bodies Serena Connolly (Rutgers University, USA)
16. Othering the Emperor in Suetonius Jose Luis Brandao (University of Coimbra, Portugal)
17. Gallienus in the HA: Othering in Biography Claudia Teixeira (University of Evora, Portugal)
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Part I: Confronting Identities: Othering Communities and Groups
1. Performing Identities in Rome's Western Provinces Louise Revell (University of Southampton, UK)
2. Decolor Heres: Dark Skin in the Roman Cultural Imagination Mario Lentano (University of Siena, Italy)
3. Cicero on Foreign Religious Images and Practices Claudia Beltrao (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
4. Where Reason Could Not Prevail: Barbarian Othering and Diplomatic Double-Standards Caesar's Commentarii De Bello Gallico Ralph Moore (Trinity College Dublin, Ireland)
5. Non Idem Esse Romani et Graeci: Varro's De Re Rustica and the Integration of the Roman World Selena Ross (Rutgers University, USA)
6. Pirate Alterity in Plutarch. The Roman Influence on the Construction of the Autre Pirate in the Moralia Francisco Martinez (University of Sevilla, Spain)
7. Contra mores maiorum: Barbarian Women Prisoners During the Principate and the High Empire Denis Alvarez Perez-Sostoa (University of The Basque Country, Spain)
8. Dio of Prusa's Get? In the Context of the Ethnographic Production of his Age Paolo Desideri (University of Florence, Italy)
9. News from a Mundus Senescens: Romans, Visigoths and Saxons in a Letter by Sidonius Apollinaris (viii 6) Filomena Giannotti (University of Siena, Italy)
10. The Geography of Otherness in the Roman Empire: Exile and Belonging Eleni Bozia (University of Florida, USA)
Part II: Confronting Identities: Othering Individuals
11. The Use of Wet-Nurses in Ancient Rome as a Way of Rupturing the Mores Pedro D. Conesa Navarro (University of Murcia - University of Oviedo, Spain) and Sara Casamayor Mancisidor (University of La Rioja, Spain)
12. Greek Lawgiver in the Epitome of Pompeius Trogus: Justin's Account of Lycurgus Martina Gatto (University of Rome, Italy)
13. Sophonisba or the Construction of Other Women Nuno Simoes Rodrigues (University of Lisbon, Portugal)
14. Self-Perception in the Construction of the Other: Case-Study of Roman Portrayal of Viriatus, Arminius and Boudica Ruben Henrique de Castro (NOVA University Lisbon, Portugal)
15. Novel Gifts: Imperial Self-Fashioning from Non-Normative Bodies Serena Connolly (Rutgers University, USA)
16. Othering the Emperor in Suetonius Jose Luis Brandao (University of Coimbra, Portugal)
17. Gallienus in the HA: Othering in Biography Claudia Teixeira (University of Evora, Portugal)
Notes
Bibliography
Index