Herakles on the edge : how do objects depicting the figure of Herakles inform our understanding of artistic choices and identity during the expansion of the Roman Empire?
This research interrogates the dynamics and discrepant experiences of Sicilian communities in the centuries before and after its conquest by Rome, by contextualising the choices made in representing the frequently occurring image of Herakles. Investigation of the object biographies of these representations in Chapter 3 reveals the influence of groups and institutions within communities which are overlooked by modern processes of cataloguing, collecting and connoisseurship analysed in Chapters 1 and 2. Focus here on one theme of representation, one object and one site through case studies problematises the assumptions made by these processes about the relative importance of global and local trends. In Chapter 4, interrogation of objects bearing theatrical representations of Herakles demonstrates the importance of festivals involving dramatic performances in eastern and southern Sicily; challenging assumptions about the use of such objects as evidence of a developmental progression of theatre 'Between Greece and Rome'. It questions the value of aesthetic judgment of uncontextualized, idealised renderings of selected images. Chapter 5 establishes the importance of considering the entire object, discussing clay
Ainsworth, Jane Lois
Herakles on the edge : how do objects depicting the figure of Herakles inform our understanding of artistic choices and identity during the expansion of the Roman Empire?. This research interrogates the dynamics and discrepant experiences of Sicilian communities in the centuries before and after its conquest by Rome, by contextualising the choices made in representing the frequently occurring image of Herakles. Investigation of the object biographies of these representations in Chapter 3 reveals the influence of groups and institutions within communities which are overlooked by modern processes of cataloguing, collecting and connoisseurship analysed in Chapters 1 and 2. Focus here on one theme of representation, one object and one site through case studies problematises the assumptions made by these processes about the relative importance of global and local trends. In Chapter 4, interrogation of objects bearing theatrical representations of Herakles demonstrates the importance of festivals involving dramatic performances in eastern and southern Sicily; challenging assumptions about the use of such objects as evidence of a developmental progression of theatre 'Between Greece and Rome'. It questions the value of aesthetic judgment of uncontextualized, idealised renderings of selected images. Chapter 5 establishes the importance of considering the entire object, discussing clay
edge object depict figure inform artistic choice identity expansion roman_empire interrogates dynamic discrepant experience sicilian community century conquest rome contextualising choice_make represent frequently_occur image investigation object_biography representations reveals influence group institution within_community overlook modern process catalogue collect analyse focus_one theme representation object site case_study problematises assumption_make process relative_importance global local trend interrogation object bear theatrical representation demonstrate_importance festival involve dramatic performance eastern southern sicily challenge_assumption use object evidence developmental progression theatre between greece_rome question value aesthetic judgment idealised rendering select image establishes importance consider entire object discuss clay