Roman period statuettes in the Netherlands and beyond : representation and ritual use in context / Christel Veen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Veen, Christel, author.

Series:

Amsterdam archaeological studies ; 30.

Amsterdam archaeological studies ; 30

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Bronze figurines, Roman--Netherlands--History--To 1500.

Bronze figurines, Roman.

Terra-cotta figurines, Roman--Netherlands--History--To 1500.

Terra-cotta figurines, Roman.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiii, 318 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Amsterdam : Amsterdam University Press, 2023.

Summary:

The subject of this study is a relatively rare category of artefacts, bronze and terracotta statuettes that represent deities, human figures and animals. They were introduced in the northwestern provinces by Roman troops from the end of the first century BCE onwards. The statuettes have been recovered from military and non-military settlements, the surrounding landscape and, to a far lesser extent, from sanctuaries and graves. Until now, their meaning and function have seldom been analysed in relation to their find-spots. Contrary to traditional studies, they have been examined as one separate category of artefacts, which offers new insights into the distribution pattern and iconographic representation of deities. When studying a group of artefacts, a large research area or a large dataset is required, as well as dateable artefacts and find-contexts. These conditions do not apply to the Netherlands and to the majority of statuettes that are central to this study. Moreover, although the changing appearance of statuettes suggest a transformation of cults, the identities of the owners of these statuettes remain invisible to us. Therefore, the issue of Romanization is not put central here. Instead, the focus is on a specific aspect of religion, known as lived religion, within the wider subject of its transformation in the Roman period: how people used statuettes in everyday life, in the context of their houses and settlements.

The subject of this study is a relatively rare category of artefacts, bronze and terracotta statuettes that represent deities, human figures and animals. They were introduced in the northwestern provinces by Roman troops from the end of the 1st century BCE onwards. The statuettes have been recovered from military and non-military settlements, the surrounding landscape and, to a far lesser extent, from sanctuaries and graves. Until now, their meaning and function have seldom been analysed in relation to their find-spots. Contrary to traditional studies, they have been examined as one separate category of artefacts, which offers new insights into the distribution pattern and iconographic representation of deities. When studying a group of artefacts, a large research area or a large dataset is required, as well as dateable artefacts and find-contexts. These conditions do not apply to the Netherlands and to the majority of statuettes that are central to this study. Moreover, although the changing appearance of statuettes suggest a transformation of cults, the identities of the owners of these statuettes remain invisible to us. Therefore, the issue of Romanization is not put central here. Instead, the focus is on a specific aspect of religion, known as lived religion, within the wider subject of its transformation in the Roman period: how people used statuettes in everyday life, in the context of their houses and settlements.

Contents:

Frontmatter

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1 A rare category of artefacts

2 Catalogue and description of find-spots

3 Spatial and iconographic analysis

4 Rituals with statuettes

5 Summary and conclusions

Abbreviations

Bibliography

List of maps, figures and drawings

Figures

Tables

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 17 Nov 2023).

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781040798362

1-003-70315-1

1-04-077242-0

90-485-5700-3

9781003703150

OCLC:

1371971562