Italian Renaissance gardens and the Middle East: cultural exchange in the longue durée (original) (raw)
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1 Plin., NH XII.iii.VI, "Sed quis non iure miretur arborem umbrae gratia tantum ex alieno petitam orbe? Platanus haec est". For a less negative view of the plane, see Seneca, Ep., XII.II when he bemoans the treatment of the plane trees on his estate. 2 Not all authors criticise the plane tree for its lack of productive foliage and seeds. The plane tree was closely associated with philosophy throughout antiquity. Many philosophers from the Hellenistic era were thought to have lectured under the shade of plane trees. In the Roman period, the plane was in demand for the gardens of private villas where elite men walked for leisure, discussing philosophy. See MACAULAY-LEWIS 2008b, 47-77. 3 See infra, 11. 4 A similar observation has been made about Roman food; food consumption is reflective of larger cultural choices and identity. See BAKELS, JACOMET 2003. 5 The archaeological study of Roman food, its consumption, and production has flourished in recent years, demonstrating a well development trade network of foodstuffs within and beyond the boundaries of the Roman Empire. The work of van der Veen in Roman Britain, Egypt and is particularly noteworthy; for her work and further bibliography, see VAN DER VEEN