Mors immatura : portraits of children on Roman funerary monuments in the west
This thesis examines funerary iconography for evidence of Roman attitudes towards children, childhood and the family. Based on 690 portrait monuments drawn from select areas of the Western Empire, its central hypothesis is that the commemorations are best read as highly artificial constructs which reveal more about the social preoccupations of the commissioners than the lives of the children whom they represent. The first of the seven chapters defines the parameters of the accompanying catalogue and discusses the benefits of studying a diverse range of monuments (rather than isolated ~show-pieces~). The methodological section which follows assesses the cultural limitations and identification problems inherent to funerary material and considers how the terms ~child~ and ~portrait~ are best defined in this medium. The four subsequent chapters analyse the following key areas: the ages, genders and attributes of children; the presentation and composition of the family; the iconography of surrogate and extended relationships; and the archaeological context of funerary display. In each case any emotional interpretations which surround the material are discussed and then countered with alternative, and better supported,
Mander, Jason
Archeology ; Roman archeology ; History of childhood ; Roman ; funerary ; portraits ; children ; families ; valuation ; commemoration
Mors immatura : portraits of children on Roman funerary monuments in the west. This thesis examines funerary iconography for evidence of Roman attitudes towards children, childhood and the family. Based on 690 portrait monuments drawn from select areas of the Western Empire, its central hypothesis is that the commemorations are best read as highly artificial constructs which reveal more about the social preoccupations of the commissioners than the lives of the children whom they represent. The first of the seven chapters defines the parameters of the accompanying catalogue and discusses the benefits of studying a diverse range of monuments (rather than isolated ~show-pieces~). The methodological section which follows assesses the cultural limitations and identification problems inherent to funerary material and considers how the terms ~child~ and ~portrait~ are best defined in this medium. The four subsequent chapters analyse the following key areas: the ages, genders and attributes of children; the presentation and composition of the family; the iconography of surrogate and extended relationships; and the archaeological context of funerary display. In each case any emotional interpretations which surround the material are discussed and then countered with alternative, and better supported,
portrait child roman_funerary monument west examines funerary iconography evidence roman attitudes_towards child childhood family based portrait monument draw select_area western_empire central_hypothesis commemoration best read highly artificial construct reveal social preoccupation commissioner live child represent first defines parameter accompany catalogue discus benefit study diverse_range monument rather isolate show methodological section follow assess cultural limitation identification problem_inherent funerary material considers term child portrait best defined medium subsequent analyse follow key_area age_gender attribute child presentation composition family iconography extend relationship archaeological_context funerary display case emotional interpretation surround material discuss alternative well support