Living in an age of gold : being a subject of the Roman Emperor
This thesis explores the perception of the emperor in the mentaliteÌs of his subjects, exploring the different ways he was understood. Drawing upon written material from Augustus to Alexander Severus, this thesis explores the roles he was cast in, alluding to a discourse concerning who the emperor was and what he should be, exploring similarities across the period. It is argued the participants in this conversation are not restricted to an elite, but also involved scrutiny from a wider population. Accordingly, this thesis is an alternative history about how the Emperor seemed. It is split into three parts according to episodes of an emperor's life: Part 1 and Chapter 1 explore the nature of the succession, including a discussion of the scholarship concerning the nature of the emperor's power and its transmission. It explores the nature of the succession, the imperial family, and perception of this issue from the perspective of his subjects. Part 2 explores the discourse about the emperor's conduct during his reign. Chapter 2 discusses the issues with the evidence, and how to glean a wider perspective. Chapter 3 is a thematic treatment of the 'topics of conversation' within the discourse, and each help to
Christoforou, Panayiotis
Rome--Kings and rulers ; Rome--History--Sources
Living in an age of gold : being a subject of the Roman Emperor. This thesis explores the perception of the emperor in the mentaliteÌs of his subjects, exploring the different ways he was understood. Drawing upon written material from Augustus to Alexander Severus, this thesis explores the roles he was cast in, alluding to a discourse concerning who the emperor was and what he should be, exploring similarities across the period. It is argued the participants in this conversation are not restricted to an elite, but also involved scrutiny from a wider population. Accordingly, this thesis is an alternative history about how the Emperor seemed. It is split into three parts according to episodes of an emperor's life: Part 1 and Chapter 1 explore the nature of the succession, including a discussion of the scholarship concerning the nature of the emperor's power and its transmission. It explores the nature of the succession, the imperial family, and perception of this issue from the perspective of his subjects. Part 2 explores the discourse about the emperor's conduct during his reign. Chapter 2 discusses the issues with the evidence, and how to glean a wider perspective. Chapter 3 is a thematic treatment of the 'topics of conversation' within the discourse, and each help to
living age gold subject roman_emperor explore perception emperor subject explore different_way understood drawing_upon write material augustus alexander explore_role cast allude discourse concern emperor explore_similarity across_period argue participant conversation restrict elite also_involve scrutiny wide population accordingly alternative history emperor seem split three_part accord episode emperor life part explore_nature succession include_discussion scholarship concern_nature emperor power transmission explores nature succession imperial_family perception issue perspective subject part explores discourse emperor conduct reign discus issue evidence glean wider perspective thematic treatment topics conversation within discourse help