Borders and boundaries are a natural part of every society. We place ourselves behind walls to separate ourselves from others as part of the creation of our identity. These borders can be physical or metaphorical. The most extreme form of border is one where the person looking out from behind the wall assumes a position of superiority over those on the outside. But not all borders have to take this form. Borders which are not physically manifest or only virtual may have a more neutral flavour. Physical proximity is often seen as a threat whereas detached observation at a distance neutralises any threat. Those on the outside then appear as merely exotic rather than as a potential enemy.

Borders were extremely important for the Roman Empire. The later Empire especially was defined by its sense of difference, and superiority, from those on the outside of its borders. In the modern world, our engagement with ancient Rome is as outsiders, beyond the borders now of time. The engagement we have with Rome is complex, since Rome finds its place not only in academic culture but also in the popular arts.