Beyond representation: 'materialising' the monumental sanctuaries of central Italy (second and first centuries BCE)

Thesis

This thesis examines the monumentalisation of the so-called Hellenistic sanctuaries in central Italy. Though much ink has been spilt on the topic, scholars have mostly approached the architectural evidence from an art historical point of view. Typological similarities and differences were often linked to specific semantic meanings of pro- or anti-Roman attitudes. At the same time, very little attention was given to the fact that the monumentalisation phenomenon or — to be pedantic — phenomena occurred over a protracted period of time, namely from the early second century to the mid-first century BCE, making it highly unlikely to see them as a unified process. In order to identify potential diversity, I focus on the construction process of the sanctuaries, employing architectural energetics as a methodological tool to shed light on issues of workforce composition and building choices. Concurrently, I insert the energetics calculations in their specific historical context according to three main phases of construction: the first coincides with the first half of the second century BCE; the second with the second half of the second century BCE and the first decade of the first century BCE (before the Social War); the third to the post-Social War era until the mid-first century BCE. Apart from these chronological contexts, the thesis will also highlight the importance of geographical contexts: hence, apart from the local and regional landscapes, attention will also be given to the wider Mediterranean character of the sanctuaries.

Authors: Ricci, L

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-g27ojvvom
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English