Senses of the Empire

The Roman empire afforded a kaleidoscope of sensations. Through a series of multisensory case studies centred on people, places, buildings and artefacts, and on specific aspects of human behaviour, this volume develops ground-breaking methods and approaches for sensory studies in Roman archaeology and ancient history. Authors explore questions such as: what it felt like, and symbolised, to be showered with saffron at the amphitheatre; why the shape of a dancer's body made him immediately recognisable as a social outcast; how the dramatic gestures, loud noises and unforgettable smells of a funeral would have different meanings for members of the family and for bystanders; and why feeling the weight of a signet ring on his finger contributed to a man's sense of identity. A multisensory approach is taken throughout, with each chapter exploring at least two of the senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. The contributors' individual approaches vary, reflecting the possibilities and the wide application of sensory studies to the ancient world. Underlying all chapters is a conviction that taking a multisensory approach enriches our understanding of the Roman empire, but also an awareness of the methodological problems encountered when reconstructing past experiences.

Eleanor Betts is Baron Thyssen Lecturer in Classical Studies at the Open University. Her research focuses on the multisensory interrelationships of the human body, material culture and archaeological landscapes. Her particular areas of interest are Roman urbanism and religion in Roman and Iron Age Italy (primarily Picenum, modern Marche), with an emphasis on concepts and use of space.

Introduction: Senses of Empire Eleanor Betts Chapter 1 The Sounds of the City: from Noise to Silence in Ancient Rome Ray Laurence Chapter 2 The Multivalency of Sensory Artefacts in the City of Rome Eleanor Betts Chapter 3 Beyond Smell: the Sensory Landscape of the Roman fullonica Miko Flohr Chapter 4 Soundscape of the Street: Architectural Acoustics in Ostia Jeffrey Veitch Chapter 5 Sensory Archaeologies: a Vindolanda Smellscape Thomas J. Derrick Chapter 6 A Sense of Grief: the Role of the Senses in the Performance of Roman Mourning Valerie M. Hope Chapter 7 Blood, Fire and Feasting: The Role of Touch and Taste in Graeco-Roman Animal Sacrifice Candace Weddle Chapter 8 Babes in Arms? Sensory Dissonance and the Ambiguities of Votive Objects Emma-Jayne Graham Chapter 9 All That Glitters: Roman Signet Rings, the Senses and the Self Ian J. Marshman Chapter 10 Tuning into the Past: Methodological Perspectives in the Contextualised Study of the Sounds of Roman Antiquity Alexandre Vincent Chapter 11 Motion Sensors: Perceiving Movement in Roman Pantomime Helen Slaney Chapter 12 Scents of Place and Colours of Smell: Fragranced Entertainment in Ancient Rome Jo Day Afterword: Towards a Methodology for Roman Sensory Studies Eleanor Betts