04-17-2006, 11:01 PM
Erm ok... Travis wrote:
Travis - have you read the book by Derek Williams, 'Romans and Barbarians'? It's been around a while, but it covers much this ground, and is a good read - no mention of othering or abjection as I recall though. Basically, Williams examines the Roman portrayal of barbarians in literature and public sculpture (principally Trajan's Column for the latter, plus Tacitus and Ovid for the former). You've probably seen it already, but if not, check it out. Some good points made about Roman 'boreophobia'.
Incidentally, why do you think the child on the Ara Pacis is a 'barbarian' child? I'd never really considered it before, and can't think who or what else it's intended to be, but is this acknowledged to be the case, and if so, why?
As for 'barbarian' depictions of Roman atrocities, that's a bit tricky - barbarian representations of Romans generally are a bit thin on the ground (except if you count Adamklissi :wink: )... It might, though, be interesting to consider what certain Romans thought the barbarians thought of them - the most obvious example of this being the speech of 'Calgacus' as reported by Tacitus - a sort of early example of the idea of the 'noble savage' perhaps, and a telling correlative to the depiction of Roman military might on the Column, or the (I assume) beneficent and paternal civilising influence portrayed on the Ara Pacis.
Meanwhile - anyone found a good picture of Vandals?
- Nathan
Quote:I am interested in what RAT members think about how Romans view Barbarians in art and literature.
I'm an art historian of course, but I'm more than happy to have people jump in with literary references.
Travis
Travis - have you read the book by Derek Williams, 'Romans and Barbarians'? It's been around a while, but it covers much this ground, and is a good read - no mention of othering or abjection as I recall though. Basically, Williams examines the Roman portrayal of barbarians in literature and public sculpture (principally Trajan's Column for the latter, plus Tacitus and Ovid for the former). You've probably seen it already, but if not, check it out. Some good points made about Roman 'boreophobia'.
Incidentally, why do you think the child on the Ara Pacis is a 'barbarian' child? I'd never really considered it before, and can't think who or what else it's intended to be, but is this acknowledged to be the case, and if so, why?
As for 'barbarian' depictions of Roman atrocities, that's a bit tricky - barbarian representations of Romans generally are a bit thin on the ground (except if you count Adamklissi :wink: )... It might, though, be interesting to consider what certain Romans thought the barbarians thought of them - the most obvious example of this being the speech of 'Calgacus' as reported by Tacitus - a sort of early example of the idea of the 'noble savage' perhaps, and a telling correlative to the depiction of Roman military might on the Column, or the (I assume) beneficent and paternal civilising influence portrayed on the Ara Pacis.
Meanwhile - anyone found a good picture of Vandals?
- Nathan
Nathan Ross