The harbour of Venus? Sub-elite identities, multisensorial adornment, and Pompeian bars
From the bars and inns (thermopolia, cauponae, and hospitia) of Roman Pompeii, destroyed in the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, a variety of different types of jewellery has been found. The bars have been excavated both inside the perimeter of the ancient city and in its harbour suburb. In particula...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Oslo Library
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Acta ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.uio.no/acta/article/view/10441 |
| _version_ | 1797729864441135104 |
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| author | Ria Berg |
| author_facet | Ria Berg |
| author_sort | Ria Berg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
From the bars and inns (thermopolia, cauponae, and hospitia) of Roman Pompeii, destroyed in the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, a variety of different types of jewellery has been found. The bars have been excavated both inside the perimeter of the ancient city and in its harbour suburb. In particular, the complete gold parure found in a river-side caupona at Moregine (building B), featuring body-chains, bracelets, and anklets, gives rise to the hypothesis that this kind of outfit of abundant gold jewellery, plausibly worn on the nude body, may have been less typically owned by elite matrons and more distinctive of sub-elite women working in bars, perhaps even connect-ed with sex work. This hypothesis is tested by questioning the multiple multi-sensorial ways in which jewellery could attract attention to the wearer’s body and signal non-elite status. Among the more ephemeral and rarely considered features are the visibility of the jewellery, based on its dimensions, material, placement on intimate areas of the body, its mobility, and perhaps also the tinkling sounds produced by its movement. As a conclusion, there seems to be a connection between the abundant use of jewellery of high visual impact, acoustic qualities referring to dance and the hospitality business in the inns of Pompeii.
On cover:
Late Roman wall, the portion immediately south of the West Gate (Porta Oea) with re-used blocks from first-century mausolea (Drawing by Francesca Bigi) and Tombstone of Regina from South Shields (Arbeia) (Tyne and WearArchives and Museums/ Bridgeman Images).
E-ISSN (online version) 2611-3686
ISSN (print version) 0065-0900
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:35:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c3935b7542954eca822d8511a10fa995 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0065-0900 2611-3686 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T11:35:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | University of Oslo Library |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia |
| spelling | doaj.art-c3935b7542954eca822d8511a10fa9952023-09-01T05:50:30ZengUniversity of Oslo LibraryActa ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia0065-09002611-36862023-08-0133N.S. 1910.5617/acta.10441The harbour of Venus? Sub-elite identities, multisensorial adornment, and Pompeian barsRia Berg0Institutum Romanum Finlandiae From the bars and inns (thermopolia, cauponae, and hospitia) of Roman Pompeii, destroyed in the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79, a variety of different types of jewellery has been found. The bars have been excavated both inside the perimeter of the ancient city and in its harbour suburb. In particular, the complete gold parure found in a river-side caupona at Moregine (building B), featuring body-chains, bracelets, and anklets, gives rise to the hypothesis that this kind of outfit of abundant gold jewellery, plausibly worn on the nude body, may have been less typically owned by elite matrons and more distinctive of sub-elite women working in bars, perhaps even connect-ed with sex work. This hypothesis is tested by questioning the multiple multi-sensorial ways in which jewellery could attract attention to the wearer’s body and signal non-elite status. Among the more ephemeral and rarely considered features are the visibility of the jewellery, based on its dimensions, material, placement on intimate areas of the body, its mobility, and perhaps also the tinkling sounds produced by its movement. As a conclusion, there seems to be a connection between the abundant use of jewellery of high visual impact, acoustic qualities referring to dance and the hospitality business in the inns of Pompeii. On cover: Late Roman wall, the portion immediately south of the West Gate (Porta Oea) with re-used blocks from first-century mausolea (Drawing by Francesca Bigi) and Tombstone of Regina from South Shields (Arbeia) (Tyne and WearArchives and Museums/ Bridgeman Images). E-ISSN (online version) 2611-3686 ISSN (print version) 0065-0900 https://journals.uio.no/acta/article/view/10441adornmentjewelleryPompeii (Extinct city)sensesidentitysub-elite identities |
| spellingShingle | Ria Berg The harbour of Venus? Sub-elite identities, multisensorial adornment, and Pompeian bars Acta ad Archaeologiam et Artium Historiam Pertinentia adornment jewellery Pompeii (Extinct city) senses identity sub-elite identities |
| title | The harbour of Venus? Sub-elite identities, multisensorial adornment, and Pompeian bars |
| title_full | The harbour of Venus? Sub-elite identities, multisensorial adornment, and Pompeian bars |
| title_fullStr | The harbour of Venus? Sub-elite identities, multisensorial adornment, and Pompeian bars |
| title_full_unstemmed | The harbour of Venus? Sub-elite identities, multisensorial adornment, and Pompeian bars |
| title_short | The harbour of Venus? Sub-elite identities, multisensorial adornment, and Pompeian bars |
| title_sort | harbour of venus sub elite identities multisensorial adornment and pompeian bars |
| topic | adornment jewellery Pompeii (Extinct city) senses identity sub-elite identities |
| url | https://journals.uio.no/acta/article/view/10441 |
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