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Woman underfoot in life and art: female representations in fourth-century Romano-British mosaics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2017

René Rodgers*
Affiliation:
Archaeology Department, 46 Saddler Street, University of Durham, Durham DH1 3NU, Great Britain
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Abstract

Women are often depicted on Romano-British mosaics either as non-specific allegorical characters without personalities, such as personifications of seasons, fortune, learning, and so on, or as figures representative of the forces of nature, such as Medusa or the seasons. Medusa, often identified with chaos, is depicted already neutralised through the nature of her representation; while the seasons are frequently coupled with a male mythological figure such as Bacchus, related to the contrast between nature and culture. Other scenes of male association with culture include scenes from the hunt. Idealised portrayals of Roman social interests focus on male-oriented activities; activities of specifically female interest are not known. These representations are interpreted in light of Sherry Ortner's social attributes of a ‘universal subordination of women’.

Im allgemeinen finden sich Frauen auf romano-britischen Mosaiken entweder als unspezifische Allegorien ohne Personalität, Personifikationen der Jahreszeiten, des Glücks, des Lernens und so weiter, oder als Medusa abgebildet. Diese chaotische, mythische Kreatur, die als Darstellung der Natur gelesen werden kann, wird regelmäßig durch Enthauptung bezwungen. Andere weibliche Repräsentationen der Natur, wie die Jahreszeiten, werden regelmäßig von männlichen mythologischen Figuren, wie etwa Bacchus, kontrolliert. Andere Szenen von männlicher kultureller Eroberung der Natur – das Jagen! – sind weit verbreitet, Zirkusszenen lassen sich ebenfalls finden. Beides sind vornehmlich männliche Interessen; Aktivitäten von besonders weiblichem Interesse sind hingegen unbekannt. Diese Darstellungen werden interpretiert im Licht von Sherry Ortners sozialen Attributen der ‘universalen Unterordnung der Frauen.’

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © European Association of Archaeologists 

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