Chiara Cenati | University of Vienna (original) (raw)

Papers by Chiara Cenati

Research paper thumbnail of Tracing Material Origins: Provenance Studies of White Marble in Roman Temple E of Ancient Corinth Using Archaeometric and Geoarchaeological Methods

Minerals, 2025

In 44 BC, Julius Caesar established Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis, strategically reviving Cori... more In 44 BC, Julius Caesar established Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis,
strategically reviving Corinth to dominate Isthmian trade routes and extend Rome’s commercial influence eastwards. At the centre of the colony lies Temple E, an enigmatic structure with an unidentified associated cult. This study investigates the architectural characteristics of Temple E, focusing on the use of marble as the primary building material. Petrographic analysis, elemental chemical profiling (Mn, Mg, Fe, Sr, Y, V, Cd, La, Ce, Yb, U), and isotopic measurements (δ18O ‰, δ13C ‰) are employed to analyse marble samples from the surrounding region, exploring sourcing and construction practices. Statistical comparisons with ancient quarry databases indicate a strong reliance on locally sourced Doliana marble, underscoring the economic significance of regional quarries and suggesting the existence of a local workshop dedicated to architectural
production in Roman Corinth. By integrating geological and archaeometric approaches, this study highlights Corinth’s pivotal role in the regional marble trade and its broader economic importance during the Roman Imperial period. The findings emphasise the use of local resources, illustrating a flourishing marble-working industry and enhancing our
understanding of the relationship between local materials and Roman architectural practices.

Research paper thumbnail of CETERVM CENSEMVS CARTHAGINEM NOVAM ESSE LEGENDAM

CETERVM CENSEMVS CARTHAGINEM NOVAM ESSE LEGENDAM: ROMAN POETRY AS CULTURAL HISTORY, 2024

This paper updates the carmina Latina epigraphica corpus of Carthago Nova (Hispania Citerior). Th... more This paper updates the carmina Latina epigraphica corpus of Carthago Nova (Hispania Citerior). The beginning of the arrival of families of Italic origin around the middle of the first century B.C. seems to be of crucial importance, as it definitely influenced the development of both trade and mining in the region and verse epigraphy. The study of the onomastics of these texts allows us to trace their origins and social positions, as well as to provide key elements of the social and cultural history of Carthago Nova.

Research paper thumbnail of Preliminary Investigation of White Marble Quarries in Roman Thrace: The Example of South-Eastern Bulgaria

HERGESTELLT UND AUFGESTELLT PRODUKTIONSDYNAMIKEN UND KONTEXTE RÖMISCHER SKULPTUREN IM ANTIKEN MITTELMEERRAUM Internationale Tagung Universität Graz, 25.–27. Februar 2019, 2024

During the last years. a systematic investigation has been conducted by our team in south-eastern... more During the last years. a systematic investigation has been conducted by our team in south-eastern Bulgaria (Thrace). The in-situ investigation of the white marble quarries and outcrops is necessary for collecting general information on the quarry (size, debris, possible entrance etc.) as well as on macroscopically characteristic of the stone and its quality. Quarry samples have been collected and analysed with various techniques (petrography, isotope and chemical analyses etc.) and have been compared with the marbles of the artefacts of the two Roman villas in Armira and Kasnakovo. An overview of epigraphic and literary evidence attesting quarrying activities in the Roman province of Thrace is also taken into consideration. The evaluation of these sources is useful for the interpretation of the results of the marble analysis. The results showed that local marble quarries were used for architecture and architectural decorations (the case study of Villa Armira), while sub-regional quarries, such as Penteli and Thasos, were used for sculptures (the case study of Kasnakovo

Research paper thumbnail of Revisiting four Latin inscriptions from Roman Tomis

MENSA ROTUNDA EPIGRAPHICA Papers of the conference held in Iași, ed.: Lucrețiu Mihailescu-Bîrliba, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Carmina for the Nymphs in the Danubian provinces

Studia epigraphica et historica in honorem Ioannis Pisonis Herausgegeben von Lucrețiu Mihailescu-Bîrliba, Radu Ardevan, Rada Varga, Florian Matei-Popescu und Ovidiu Țentea, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Military history from square brackets: some revisited inscriptions from the city of Rome

Alfred von Domaszewski: latin epigraphy in the Roman Empire: acts of the colloquium held in Timişoara in December 14th–17th 2022 / edited by Sorin Nemeti and Călin Timoc. – Cluj-Napoca, 2024

In his paper, History from “square brackets” (1989), Ernst Badian criticizes the indiscriminate u... more In his paper, History from “square brackets” (1989), Ernst Badian criticizes the indiscriminate use by historians of unlikely reconstructions of lost portions of epigraphic texts. Sometimes, though, the text in square brackets is not given only exempli gratia and the possible restitutions are limited to a couple of options. In such cases, also the supplemented text can fully contribute to the historical research. In this paper some new readings are presented, all regarding the careers of soldiers in Rome, attested in fragmentary or lost inscriptions, most of them only superficially published. Nowadays, the improved knowledge of the Roman army, in respect of A. von Domaszewski’s standard work from 1908, allows us to supplement missing parts of the text. The new readings contribute to the reconstruction of the overall picture regarding the military presence in the city of Rome during the imperial time through the identification of military units or subunits, of the steps of single careers, and of the specific structure and functions of the monuments.

Research paper thumbnail of Poetic Baggage: Representations of Camp Followers in the Latin Verse Inscriptions

Electrum 31, 2024

Each unit of the Roman army constituted a major logistic operation that cannot be reduced to the ... more Each unit of the Roman army constituted a major logistic operation that cannot be reduced to the fighting men who formed their core and purpose. While camp followers are depicted in literary sources especially as an hindrance to war operations, inscriptions provide a different picture of the world that gravitated around the military forts and fortresses. In the military settlements that guarded the limes, the presence of paramilitary and non-military personnel did not represent a burden, but an important part of the military economy, which in some cases even led to the emergence of a new business class. In this paper, we provide an anthology of verse inscriptions dedicated by, or to, camp followers, with a view to showcase how their everyday interactions with the army were conceptualised and verbalised, ultimately contributing to a richer picture of the limes social ecosystem.

Research paper thumbnail of A contribution to the urbanization and marble supply of Roman Thrace: an interdisciplinary study

Journal of Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2024

Authors: Petya Andreeva, Vasiliki Anevlavi, Benjamin Frerix, Walter Prochaska, Sabine Ladstätter,... more Authors: Petya Andreeva, Vasiliki Anevlavi, Benjamin Frerix, Walter Prochaska, Sabine Ladstätter, Krasimira Karadimitrova

The study of marble trade in antiquity has received a lot of scholarly attention in the last few decades; however, numerous deposits of high-quality white marble in the Thracian interior have only recently become pivotal in Bulgaria. Following the establishment of Thrace as a Roman province, investments into transport infrastructure, urban and rural construction works and monumentalizing architecture in marble have led to an increased demand for stone. Local marble quarries close to urban centres and larger imperial quarries were used for civic buildings, villas and sanctuaries. Provenance analysis of marble quarries and artefacts has established a close link between the place of origin and subsequent place of use. This multidisciplinary study explores marble sources in the Thracian interior via various approaches such as epigraphy, archaeology, and archaeometry regarding urbanization, trade, and transportation. In this paper, we consider and investigate the Berkovitsa marble, a quarry close to Montana in northwestern Bulgaria, and present a broader framework for the marble trade of the region.

Research paper thumbnail of Sounds from Sarmizegetusa: Poetry and Performance in the Province of Dacia

Acta Musei Napocensis, 2023

This paper gathers all verse and rhythmical inscriptions from Sarmizegetusa. Focusing on a histor... more This paper gathers all verse and rhythmical inscriptions from Sarmizegetusa.
Focusing on a historical analysis, the aim of this study is to identify the profiles of people involved in the dedications, explore all the communicative settings and finally, to outline the specific poetic fingerprints of the first colonia of the province Dacia.

Research paper thumbnail of Appunti di onomastica militare: osservazioni su alcune iscrizioni urbane

Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Defragmenting Apulum: A Re-Examination of IDR III/5.2.586 (With a Digression on IDR III/5.2.622+626)

Tyche: Beiträge zur Alten Geschichte Papyrologie und Epigraphik 36, 2021

Link to OA paper below

Research paper thumbnail of EDR - Effetti collaterali  7

Scienze dell'Antichità, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of MAPPOLA Database: Digital text edition “creating” specific perception of texts. From the Epigraphic Database Roma to the Mappola Database

Research paper thumbnail of AEp 1993, 335 e CIL VI, 3195: due riletture

Research paper thumbnail of Geochemical and petrographic investigation of the provenance of white marble decorative elements from the Roman Villa Armira in south-eastern Bulgaria

Archaeol Anthropol Sci 14, 2022

The paper presents evidence of Roman marble production in the Balkan region, specifically from th... more The paper presents evidence of Roman marble production in the Balkan region, specifically from the south-eastern Rhodope Mountain area (modern Bulgaria) and Armira. Although the Roman marble trade and production in antiquity are well known in Prokonnesos, Thasos, and several other production sites, marble deposits from inland Thrace have received far less attention. In 2018–2019, a systematic survey of south-eastern Bulgaria (Roman Thrace) was carried out by our team in collaboration with the National Archaeological Institute with Museum in Bulgaria. White marble quarries and outcrops were investigated in situ with the goal of characterizing the macroscopic qualities of the stone. Quarry samples were collected and analyzed through various techniques—petrography, isotopic, and chemical analyses—and compared with the architectural decorative marble and artifacts from the Roman villa at Armira. We demonstrate that the geochemical and petrographic features of these samples indicate a marble provenance restricted to a few selected sources. We conclude that the local marble from the Armira and Kamilski Dol quarries was widely used for the complete architectural program of the Roman villa of Armira.

Research paper thumbnail of When poetry comes to its senses

Dynamic Epigraphy - When poetry comes to its senses: inscribed Roman verse and the human sensorium

has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon ... more has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 832874-MAPPOLA). Early stages of this paper were developed during a British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship held by P.K. in 2014-5 and, in part, presented on occasion of the 2018 Celtic Conference in Classics, at the University of St. Andrews: comments and feedback by the audience were gratefully received. 145 7. When poetry comes to its senses the inscribed environment that they inhabited? 3 These are the questions that merit attention and further study, and it seems sensible to approach this matter in a way that follows the five senses of the human sensorium, re-establishing the sensuous experience, or at least its conceptualizations, of encounters with inscribed poetry (and in many cases: with the inscribed world in general). Sight The most obvious, primary way in which anyone, at any given time, would encounter inscribed poetry is, of course, visual. Sight is, however, a significantly more complex experience than commonly considered, and productively taken into account, in relevant scholarship on the matter. 4 Recent Carmina Epigraphica research has investigated a wide range of aspects related to the visual and graphic presentation of inscribed poetry. In particular, scholarship has focused on the paradigms and strategies behind the ways in which poetic texts were commonly presented, both on their own and in relation to the inscribed monuments as well as, where applicable, prose elements of more complex textual compositions. 5 The (narrow) focus on the actual object, the micro-context of an actual inscription and its wording in relation to the inscribed monument, is only one aspect that matters when it comes to the visual experience of inscribed poetry, however-and in that it also is the one that is most closely related to our own visual experience, as we still encounter texts from up close, in situ just as much as in museums, collections, and galleries. 6 This would not, however, be the way in which people in Roman times initially encountered both inscribed objects and, more specifically, instances of verbal art. Rather, the entire encounter is a complex process, escalating (potentially) through a significant number of steps from distance to intimate proximity and familiarity. Approach and distance/proximity are only two aspects, however, in a much more complicated framework still. Monuments, portable objects, mosaics, once they are placed (or at least considered) in their original context, interact with their experienceable surroundings in a complex and intricate manner, and they

Research paper thumbnail of Von der Nekropole in den Kindergarten: Der seltsame Fall von zwei stadtrömischen Grabinschriften in Kärnten

In diesem Beitrag werden zwei Grabinschriften, die im Kindergarten "Herrenhaus" Fischl ... more In diesem Beitrag werden zwei Grabinschriften, die im Kindergarten "Herrenhaus" Fischl in Klagenfurt aufbewahrt sind, untersucht und ediert. Die erste Inschrift (CIL VI 21974), eine Grabstele, die bisher als moderne Kopie eines Monuments aus der Stadt Rom erachtet wurde, wird als stadtrömisches Original identifiziert. Die zweite Inschrift, eine bislang unveröffentlichte Grabplatte, deren Fundort unbekannt ist, wird hier zum ersten Mal veröffentlicht und als stadtrömische Inschrift erklärt.

Research paper thumbnail of The marbles of the basilica of Ascalon: another example of the Severan building projects

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2022

This paper presents the research conducted on the origin of the white marble architecture of the ... more This paper presents the research conducted on the origin of the white marble architecture of the basilica of Ascalon (Israel). The basilica is located in the civic centre of the Roman city of Ascalon and it is one of the relatively few known monumental buildings of Roman Palestine. The various construction phases of the basilica are dated from the first century BC to the third century AD. As Israel has no sources of marble, this paper explores the origin of the white marble that was used for several architectural elements such as bases, columns, capitals, and figurative pilasters to identify their provenance. The methodology includes petrographic studies, chemical and isotopic analyses, and chemical analyses of inclusion fluids and extractable salts (crush-leach analyses) of the marble. The results demonstrate that the imported marble highlights the wide extent of connectivity and interregional trade in the region. Some of the main sources of building materials used in the construct...

Research paper thumbnail of Italia Epigrafica Digitale , XII.7.2 (Novembre 2017), Roma – Inscriptiones Latinae: Iscrizioni post CIL non in AE, Parte II

Research paper thumbnail of Italia Epigrafica Digitale, vol. XII.7, Roma - Inscriptiones Latinae: Iscrizioni post CIL in AE, parte I

Research paper thumbnail of Tracing Material Origins: Provenance Studies of White Marble in Roman Temple E of Ancient Corinth Using Archaeometric and Geoarchaeological Methods

Minerals, 2025

In 44 BC, Julius Caesar established Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis, strategically reviving Cori... more In 44 BC, Julius Caesar established Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis,
strategically reviving Corinth to dominate Isthmian trade routes and extend Rome’s commercial influence eastwards. At the centre of the colony lies Temple E, an enigmatic structure with an unidentified associated cult. This study investigates the architectural characteristics of Temple E, focusing on the use of marble as the primary building material. Petrographic analysis, elemental chemical profiling (Mn, Mg, Fe, Sr, Y, V, Cd, La, Ce, Yb, U), and isotopic measurements (δ18O ‰, δ13C ‰) are employed to analyse marble samples from the surrounding region, exploring sourcing and construction practices. Statistical comparisons with ancient quarry databases indicate a strong reliance on locally sourced Doliana marble, underscoring the economic significance of regional quarries and suggesting the existence of a local workshop dedicated to architectural
production in Roman Corinth. By integrating geological and archaeometric approaches, this study highlights Corinth’s pivotal role in the regional marble trade and its broader economic importance during the Roman Imperial period. The findings emphasise the use of local resources, illustrating a flourishing marble-working industry and enhancing our
understanding of the relationship between local materials and Roman architectural practices.

Research paper thumbnail of CETERVM CENSEMVS CARTHAGINEM NOVAM ESSE LEGENDAM

CETERVM CENSEMVS CARTHAGINEM NOVAM ESSE LEGENDAM: ROMAN POETRY AS CULTURAL HISTORY, 2024

This paper updates the carmina Latina epigraphica corpus of Carthago Nova (Hispania Citerior). Th... more This paper updates the carmina Latina epigraphica corpus of Carthago Nova (Hispania Citerior). The beginning of the arrival of families of Italic origin around the middle of the first century B.C. seems to be of crucial importance, as it definitely influenced the development of both trade and mining in the region and verse epigraphy. The study of the onomastics of these texts allows us to trace their origins and social positions, as well as to provide key elements of the social and cultural history of Carthago Nova.

Research paper thumbnail of Preliminary Investigation of White Marble Quarries in Roman Thrace: The Example of South-Eastern Bulgaria

HERGESTELLT UND AUFGESTELLT PRODUKTIONSDYNAMIKEN UND KONTEXTE RÖMISCHER SKULPTUREN IM ANTIKEN MITTELMEERRAUM Internationale Tagung Universität Graz, 25.–27. Februar 2019, 2024

During the last years. a systematic investigation has been conducted by our team in south-eastern... more During the last years. a systematic investigation has been conducted by our team in south-eastern Bulgaria (Thrace). The in-situ investigation of the white marble quarries and outcrops is necessary for collecting general information on the quarry (size, debris, possible entrance etc.) as well as on macroscopically characteristic of the stone and its quality. Quarry samples have been collected and analysed with various techniques (petrography, isotope and chemical analyses etc.) and have been compared with the marbles of the artefacts of the two Roman villas in Armira and Kasnakovo. An overview of epigraphic and literary evidence attesting quarrying activities in the Roman province of Thrace is also taken into consideration. The evaluation of these sources is useful for the interpretation of the results of the marble analysis. The results showed that local marble quarries were used for architecture and architectural decorations (the case study of Villa Armira), while sub-regional quarries, such as Penteli and Thasos, were used for sculptures (the case study of Kasnakovo

Research paper thumbnail of Revisiting four Latin inscriptions from Roman Tomis

MENSA ROTUNDA EPIGRAPHICA Papers of the conference held in Iași, ed.: Lucrețiu Mihailescu-Bîrliba, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Carmina for the Nymphs in the Danubian provinces

Studia epigraphica et historica in honorem Ioannis Pisonis Herausgegeben von Lucrețiu Mihailescu-Bîrliba, Radu Ardevan, Rada Varga, Florian Matei-Popescu und Ovidiu Țentea, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of Military history from square brackets: some revisited inscriptions from the city of Rome

Alfred von Domaszewski: latin epigraphy in the Roman Empire: acts of the colloquium held in Timişoara in December 14th–17th 2022 / edited by Sorin Nemeti and Călin Timoc. – Cluj-Napoca, 2024

In his paper, History from “square brackets” (1989), Ernst Badian criticizes the indiscriminate u... more In his paper, History from “square brackets” (1989), Ernst Badian criticizes the indiscriminate use by historians of unlikely reconstructions of lost portions of epigraphic texts. Sometimes, though, the text in square brackets is not given only exempli gratia and the possible restitutions are limited to a couple of options. In such cases, also the supplemented text can fully contribute to the historical research. In this paper some new readings are presented, all regarding the careers of soldiers in Rome, attested in fragmentary or lost inscriptions, most of them only superficially published. Nowadays, the improved knowledge of the Roman army, in respect of A. von Domaszewski’s standard work from 1908, allows us to supplement missing parts of the text. The new readings contribute to the reconstruction of the overall picture regarding the military presence in the city of Rome during the imperial time through the identification of military units or subunits, of the steps of single careers, and of the specific structure and functions of the monuments.

Research paper thumbnail of Poetic Baggage: Representations of Camp Followers in the Latin Verse Inscriptions

Electrum 31, 2024

Each unit of the Roman army constituted a major logistic operation that cannot be reduced to the ... more Each unit of the Roman army constituted a major logistic operation that cannot be reduced to the fighting men who formed their core and purpose. While camp followers are depicted in literary sources especially as an hindrance to war operations, inscriptions provide a different picture of the world that gravitated around the military forts and fortresses. In the military settlements that guarded the limes, the presence of paramilitary and non-military personnel did not represent a burden, but an important part of the military economy, which in some cases even led to the emergence of a new business class. In this paper, we provide an anthology of verse inscriptions dedicated by, or to, camp followers, with a view to showcase how their everyday interactions with the army were conceptualised and verbalised, ultimately contributing to a richer picture of the limes social ecosystem.

Research paper thumbnail of A contribution to the urbanization and marble supply of Roman Thrace: an interdisciplinary study

Journal of Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2024

Authors: Petya Andreeva, Vasiliki Anevlavi, Benjamin Frerix, Walter Prochaska, Sabine Ladstätter,... more Authors: Petya Andreeva, Vasiliki Anevlavi, Benjamin Frerix, Walter Prochaska, Sabine Ladstätter, Krasimira Karadimitrova

The study of marble trade in antiquity has received a lot of scholarly attention in the last few decades; however, numerous deposits of high-quality white marble in the Thracian interior have only recently become pivotal in Bulgaria. Following the establishment of Thrace as a Roman province, investments into transport infrastructure, urban and rural construction works and monumentalizing architecture in marble have led to an increased demand for stone. Local marble quarries close to urban centres and larger imperial quarries were used for civic buildings, villas and sanctuaries. Provenance analysis of marble quarries and artefacts has established a close link between the place of origin and subsequent place of use. This multidisciplinary study explores marble sources in the Thracian interior via various approaches such as epigraphy, archaeology, and archaeometry regarding urbanization, trade, and transportation. In this paper, we consider and investigate the Berkovitsa marble, a quarry close to Montana in northwestern Bulgaria, and present a broader framework for the marble trade of the region.

Research paper thumbnail of Sounds from Sarmizegetusa: Poetry and Performance in the Province of Dacia

Acta Musei Napocensis, 2023

This paper gathers all verse and rhythmical inscriptions from Sarmizegetusa. Focusing on a histor... more This paper gathers all verse and rhythmical inscriptions from Sarmizegetusa.
Focusing on a historical analysis, the aim of this study is to identify the profiles of people involved in the dedications, explore all the communicative settings and finally, to outline the specific poetic fingerprints of the first colonia of the province Dacia.

Research paper thumbnail of Appunti di onomastica militare: osservazioni su alcune iscrizioni urbane

Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Defragmenting Apulum: A Re-Examination of IDR III/5.2.586 (With a Digression on IDR III/5.2.622+626)

Tyche: Beiträge zur Alten Geschichte Papyrologie und Epigraphik 36, 2021

Link to OA paper below

Research paper thumbnail of EDR - Effetti collaterali  7

Scienze dell'Antichità, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of MAPPOLA Database: Digital text edition “creating” specific perception of texts. From the Epigraphic Database Roma to the Mappola Database

Research paper thumbnail of AEp 1993, 335 e CIL VI, 3195: due riletture

Research paper thumbnail of Geochemical and petrographic investigation of the provenance of white marble decorative elements from the Roman Villa Armira in south-eastern Bulgaria

Archaeol Anthropol Sci 14, 2022

The paper presents evidence of Roman marble production in the Balkan region, specifically from th... more The paper presents evidence of Roman marble production in the Balkan region, specifically from the south-eastern Rhodope Mountain area (modern Bulgaria) and Armira. Although the Roman marble trade and production in antiquity are well known in Prokonnesos, Thasos, and several other production sites, marble deposits from inland Thrace have received far less attention. In 2018–2019, a systematic survey of south-eastern Bulgaria (Roman Thrace) was carried out by our team in collaboration with the National Archaeological Institute with Museum in Bulgaria. White marble quarries and outcrops were investigated in situ with the goal of characterizing the macroscopic qualities of the stone. Quarry samples were collected and analyzed through various techniques—petrography, isotopic, and chemical analyses—and compared with the architectural decorative marble and artifacts from the Roman villa at Armira. We demonstrate that the geochemical and petrographic features of these samples indicate a marble provenance restricted to a few selected sources. We conclude that the local marble from the Armira and Kamilski Dol quarries was widely used for the complete architectural program of the Roman villa of Armira.

Research paper thumbnail of When poetry comes to its senses

Dynamic Epigraphy - When poetry comes to its senses: inscribed Roman verse and the human sensorium

has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon ... more has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 832874-MAPPOLA). Early stages of this paper were developed during a British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship held by P.K. in 2014-5 and, in part, presented on occasion of the 2018 Celtic Conference in Classics, at the University of St. Andrews: comments and feedback by the audience were gratefully received. 145 7. When poetry comes to its senses the inscribed environment that they inhabited? 3 These are the questions that merit attention and further study, and it seems sensible to approach this matter in a way that follows the five senses of the human sensorium, re-establishing the sensuous experience, or at least its conceptualizations, of encounters with inscribed poetry (and in many cases: with the inscribed world in general). Sight The most obvious, primary way in which anyone, at any given time, would encounter inscribed poetry is, of course, visual. Sight is, however, a significantly more complex experience than commonly considered, and productively taken into account, in relevant scholarship on the matter. 4 Recent Carmina Epigraphica research has investigated a wide range of aspects related to the visual and graphic presentation of inscribed poetry. In particular, scholarship has focused on the paradigms and strategies behind the ways in which poetic texts were commonly presented, both on their own and in relation to the inscribed monuments as well as, where applicable, prose elements of more complex textual compositions. 5 The (narrow) focus on the actual object, the micro-context of an actual inscription and its wording in relation to the inscribed monument, is only one aspect that matters when it comes to the visual experience of inscribed poetry, however-and in that it also is the one that is most closely related to our own visual experience, as we still encounter texts from up close, in situ just as much as in museums, collections, and galleries. 6 This would not, however, be the way in which people in Roman times initially encountered both inscribed objects and, more specifically, instances of verbal art. Rather, the entire encounter is a complex process, escalating (potentially) through a significant number of steps from distance to intimate proximity and familiarity. Approach and distance/proximity are only two aspects, however, in a much more complicated framework still. Monuments, portable objects, mosaics, once they are placed (or at least considered) in their original context, interact with their experienceable surroundings in a complex and intricate manner, and they

Research paper thumbnail of Von der Nekropole in den Kindergarten: Der seltsame Fall von zwei stadtrömischen Grabinschriften in Kärnten

In diesem Beitrag werden zwei Grabinschriften, die im Kindergarten "Herrenhaus" Fischl ... more In diesem Beitrag werden zwei Grabinschriften, die im Kindergarten "Herrenhaus" Fischl in Klagenfurt aufbewahrt sind, untersucht und ediert. Die erste Inschrift (CIL VI 21974), eine Grabstele, die bisher als moderne Kopie eines Monuments aus der Stadt Rom erachtet wurde, wird als stadtrömisches Original identifiziert. Die zweite Inschrift, eine bislang unveröffentlichte Grabplatte, deren Fundort unbekannt ist, wird hier zum ersten Mal veröffentlicht und als stadtrömische Inschrift erklärt.

Research paper thumbnail of The marbles of the basilica of Ascalon: another example of the Severan building projects

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2022

This paper presents the research conducted on the origin of the white marble architecture of the ... more This paper presents the research conducted on the origin of the white marble architecture of the basilica of Ascalon (Israel). The basilica is located in the civic centre of the Roman city of Ascalon and it is one of the relatively few known monumental buildings of Roman Palestine. The various construction phases of the basilica are dated from the first century BC to the third century AD. As Israel has no sources of marble, this paper explores the origin of the white marble that was used for several architectural elements such as bases, columns, capitals, and figurative pilasters to identify their provenance. The methodology includes petrographic studies, chemical and isotopic analyses, and chemical analyses of inclusion fluids and extractable salts (crush-leach analyses) of the marble. The results demonstrate that the imported marble highlights the wide extent of connectivity and interregional trade in the region. Some of the main sources of building materials used in the construct...

Research paper thumbnail of Italia Epigrafica Digitale , XII.7.2 (Novembre 2017), Roma – Inscriptiones Latinae: Iscrizioni post CIL non in AE, Parte II

Research paper thumbnail of Italia Epigrafica Digitale, vol. XII.7, Roma - Inscriptiones Latinae: Iscrizioni post CIL in AE, parte I

Research paper thumbnail of Behind the scenes of the Mappola database

Research paper thumbnail of MAPPOLA - An interactive platform mapping out the verse inscriptions of the Roman Empire

The MAPPOLA project will provide a fundamentally transformed, deep understanding of the Latin (an... more The MAPPOLA project will provide a fundamentally transformed, deep understanding of the Latin (and Greek) poetry as it was produced in the Roman world. Combining linguistic, historical, and archaeological approaches, this multidisciplinary project investigates Roman poetic practice and culture at all social, regional, and ethnic levels, mapping out the creation and transformation(s) of poetic landscapes and (sub-)cultures, as well as exploring chronological and cross-cultural shifts and changes. To this end, an open-access platform will be set up, serving as an interface that will benefit the scientific community and, at the same time, serve as a tool for dissemination and teaching.

Research paper thumbnail of Laterculi praetorianorum rivisti e corretti, Poster presented at the XVth International Congress of Greek and Latin Epigraphy. Languages – Culture of Writing – Identities in Antiquity (Vienna, 28th August – 1st September 2017)

Lastra in forma di lesena dedicata da pretoriani (CIL, VI 32638 = EDR074389 [frg. d]) Proprietà: ... more Lastra in forma di lesena dedicata da pretoriani (CIL, VI 32638 = EDR074389 [frg. d]) Proprietà: Museo Civico di Bologna (inv. MCABo 19244) Copyright: Museo Civico di Bologna Scheda EDR relativa al latercolo CIL, VI 32638

Research paper thumbnail of Miles in urbe. Identità e autorappresentazione nelle iscrizioni dei soldati di origine danubiana e balcanica a Roma

Le iscrizioni di Roma sono una fonte essenziale per lo studio della storia militare. Attraverso d... more Le iscrizioni di Roma sono una fonte essenziale per lo studio della storia militare. Attraverso di esse il volume fa luce sui costrutti identitari etnici e religiosi e sui processi di integrazione dei soldati di origine danubiana e balcanica in servizio nelle unità di Roma tra il I e il III secolo. Vengono esplorate le modalità con cui questi militari si identificano come membri di una stessa comunità e creano così nuove percezioni identitarie; sono analizzati i monumenti sacri, testimoni dei culti praticati, delle forme di aggregazione religiosa e della nascita di gruppi di compatrioti; e infine si esaminano le iscrizioni sepolcrali, che permettono di comprendere le intricate reti sociali e l’interazione di soldati e veterani con la popolazione dell’Urbs, in relazione alle loro forme di mobilità tra Roma e le proprie province di provenienza.

Research paper thumbnail of Ad ripam fluminis Danuvi: Papers of the 3rd International Conference on the Roman Danubian Provinces (Tyche Supplement 11)

Research paper thumbnail of Recensione a: Sebastian Prignitz, Bauurkunden von Epidauros II (350-300). Abaton, Kleisia, Aphroditetempel, Artemistempel, Theather, Epidoteion, ἐπὶ Κυνος σκαμάτα, München, C. H. Beck, 2022 (Vestigia, 75)

Recensione a: Sebastian Prignitz, Bauurkunden von Epidauros II (350-300). Abaton, Kleisia, Aphroditetempel, Artemistempel, Theather, Epidoteion, ἐπὶ Κυνος σκαμάτα, München, C. H. Beck, 2022 (Vestigia, 75)

Epigraphica, 2023

La Direzione si vale inoltre di un ampio Comitato internazionale di lettura al quale sottopone, a... more La Direzione si vale inoltre di un ampio Comitato internazionale di lettura al quale sottopone, a seconda delle specifiche competenze e in forma anonima, gli articoli pervenuti con la procedura del «doppio cieco».

Research paper thumbnail of Carmina for the Nymphs in the Danubian provinces

Studia epigraphica et historica in honorem Ioannis Pisonis. Herausgegeben von Lucrețiu Mihailescu-Bîrliba, Radu Ardevan, Rada Varga, Florian Matei-Popescu und Ovidiu Țentea, 2024

Detailed epigraphic study on the cult of Nymphs in thermal baths in Pannonia and Dacia