Concepts of colour in ancient Rome
This thesis is an attempt to understand how Romans of the early empire categorised, organised and applied colours. The study of colour has become familiar territory in recent anthropology, linguistics, art history and archaeology. Classicists, however, have traditionally subordinated the study of colour to form. By drawing together evidence and ideas floated by contemporary philosophers, elegists, epic writers, historians and satirists, this research reinstates colour as an essential informative unit for the classification and evaluation of the Roman world. It also demonstrates that the question of what colour is and how it functions - as well as how it could be abused and mislead the senses - were high on the Roman intellectual agenda. Chapter one examines a range of Roman responses to the rainbow, the <i>locus classicus</i> of colour discrimination and explores how Romans discussed and interpreted this difficult phenomenon. It then demonstrates that such discussion was deeply embedded in a Greek and Hellenistic philosophical tradition which was concerned with the relationship between perception, the physical world, and knowledge. It explores the impact of these debates on Roman discussions of <i>color</i>,
Bradley, M.
Concepts of colour in ancient Rome. This thesis is an attempt to understand how Romans of the early empire categorised, organised and applied colours. The study of colour has become familiar territory in recent anthropology, linguistics, art history and archaeology. Classicists, however, have traditionally subordinated the study of colour to form. By drawing together evidence and ideas floated by contemporary philosophers, elegists, epic writers, historians and satirists, this research reinstates colour as an essential informative unit for the classification and evaluation of the Roman world. It also demonstrates that the question of what colour is and how it functions - as well as how it could be abused and mislead the senses - were high on the Roman intellectual agenda. Chapter one examines a range of Roman responses to the rainbow, the <i>locus classicus</i> of colour discrimination and explores how Romans discussed and interpreted this difficult phenomenon. It then demonstrates that such discussion was deeply embedded in a Greek and Hellenistic philosophical tradition which was concerned with the relationship between perception, the physical world, and knowledge. It explores the impact of these debates on Roman discussions of <i>color</i>,
concepts colour ancient_rome attempt romans early_empire categorise organise applied colour study colour become familiar territory recent anthropology linguistics art_history archaeology however traditionally subordinate study colour form draw_together evidence idea contemporary philosopher epic writer historian reinstate colour essential informative unit classification evaluation roman_world also_demonstrate question colour function well could abuse mislead sens high roman intellectual agenda examine range roman responses locus colour discrimination explores romans discuss interpret difficult phenomenon demonstrates discussion deeply embed greek hellenistic philosophical_tradition concern_relationship perception physical_world knowledge explores_impact debate roman discussion