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Identifier 000445569
Title Η αυτοκρατορική ταυτότητα της Κορίνθου ως ρωμαϊκής αποικίας, από τον 1ο αιώνα π.Χ. έως τον 4ο αιώνα μ.Χ.
Alternative Title The imperial identity of Corinth as a Roman colony from the 1st century B.C. until the 4th century A.D.
Author Κουρσούμης, Σωκράτης Σ.
Thesis advisor Καραναστάση Παυλίνα
Reviewer Σταμπολίδης Νικόλαος Camia Francesco
Μπουραζέλης Κωνσταντίνος
Λώλος Ιωάννης
Κατάκης Στυλιανός,
Κρεμύδη Σοφία
Camia Francesco
Abstract The study on the "Imperial Identity of Corinth as a Roman colony from the 1st century B.C. until the 4th century A.D." examines all archaeological, epigraphic and numismatic finds in Corinth that are evident of the special identity of the Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis, from 44 B.C. when it was founded by Julius Caesar, until the end of the 4th century A.D. when the face of the Roman city started changing due to the Theodosian edicts, the raid of the Bisigoths of Alarich in 396 A.D. and the destruction of the Isthmian Sanctuary. The essence of that identity can be traced in a variety of finds, categorised into four groups: A. Buildings and monuments associated with emperors and their family members, such as temples and basilicas dedicated to the imperial cult, as well as edifices which housed relevant religious and honorary activities. B. Statues that are identified or may be identified with Roman emperors, princes, consorts, relatives, even favourites of rulers, such as Antinous. C. Latin and Greek texts inscribed on architectural parts, as well as statue bases and stone fragments bearing inscriptions. All texs contain references to rulers and their family members, high-ranking magistrates, imperial cults, colleges, as well as imperial, athletic, poetic and musical games dedicated to emperors. D. Coins minted from 43 B.C. until 205 A.D., when the Corinthian mint ended its operation. Their iconography includes imperial monuments, significant events and occasions of the lives of emperors and members of the imperial family, as well as imperial deities and cults established in Corinth. Analysis and synthesis of the aforementioned data lead to critical conclusions regarding the relations between the Roman imperial court and the city of Corinth. The new colony was founded, organised and operated, for a long period of time, on the basis of the Lex Iulia Municipalis and the ius Italicum. Its political and religious centre was planned and constructed according to Roman architectural and political principles. At the eastern part of the Forum Romanum the Julian Basilica was erected, an edifice that reflected the identity and name of the city in the Julio-Claudian era and housed imperial cult. Next to the basilica, at the south eastern corner of the Forum, stood the so-called Southeast Building, identified with the aedes Αugustalium of the Colonia. On the West Terrace, at the western side of the main square, a number of small temples and monuments housed cults of imperial deities such as Venus, Apollo Augustus and Neptunus Augustus. The iconic Roman Temple E, also known as Octavia's Temple, was likely dedicated to the cult of Iuppiter Capitolinus and later on housed the cults of Olympian or Panhellenic Hadrian. The Roman Temple C, that stood to the east of Temple E, was probably dedicated to the cults of selected members of the imperial family, such as Livia and Sabina. Furthermore, the Archaic Temple of Apollo to the north of the Roman Forum, possibly housed cult of Augustus as Apollo. During Tiberius' reign the temple was renovated and rededicated to the Gens Iulia and later on to his successors. It seems that all Roman emperors of the Julio-Claudian dynasty as well as their consorts were identified with the patron deities of the city of Corinth, such as Aphrodite, Poseidon, Apollo, Hera and Athena, and renowned heroes such as Bellerephon. In the Flavian era a catastrophic earthquake ruined the city, while Vespasian probably deprived her of all financial and political privileges, including the status of the capital of the Province of Achaea. Thanks to his son Domitian, Corinth was soon reconstructed and its economy flourished again. To honour him and his family, the Corinthians renamed the city as Colonia Iulia Flavia Augusta Corinthiensis and built the South Basilca, an edifice identical to the Julian Basilica dedicated to Gens Flavia, marking the new identiity of the city. After Domitian's death the building was re-dedicated to the new imperial dynasty of Nerva, stressing the new identity of Corinth. Moreover, epigraphic texts and numismatic finds record renowned Roman cults established in the city. It seems that the cults of Salus Publica, Providentia Augusta, Saturnus, Nemesis Augusta, Mars Augustus, Lares (Compitales), Genius Coloniae and Genius Augusti, the personified Colonia Laus Iulia Corinthiensis, Victoria Augusta as well as Victoria Britannica, were popular in Corinth and practiced by their own sacerdotes. It is worth noting that apart from Rome, Italy and cities in Britain, Corinth was probably the only city of the Empire that established the cult of Victoria Britannica in the Claudian era. Seventy six (76) or more statues and inscribed statue bases should be associated with emperors and members of the imperial family. Their study documents that as the Corinthians were well aware of statuary styles introduced in Rome, initially imported and later on sculpted in their own workshops high quality artworks. The imperial statues were placed in temples and basilicas, college scholae, public spaces and buildings such as the Theatre, the Odeum and the Isthmian Sanctuary. The Corinthians dedicated imperial statues on several occasions related to the lives of their rulers or the welfare of the Empire. Although fragments of statues and inscriptions were found scattered, it is very likely that a separate section of the city-centre was chosen for each imperial dynasty and its statuary. The iconography of the Corinthian coins documents that the Colonia was well informed and depicted every major event in the Empire: ascension of new rulers to the imperial throne, adoption of successors, new offices and titles offered to them , political agreements, military victories, as wella as incidents with critical social impact. The plethora of iconographic types used in the Corinthian coinage is unique among the cities of the Province of Achaea. All inscriptions were written in Latin, the official language of the colony, that was dominant in the 1st century B.C. and the 1st century A.D. and remained popular until the late 4th century A.D. The revival of the Panhellenic Isthmian games in the 1st century B.C. coincided with the institution of the Caesarean games, dedicated to Augustus. After the death of Augustus the city introduced special games in honour of every living Emperor, that included a variety of athletic, music and poetic contests. Roman collegia such as the Augustales and the collegium Lares Domus Divinae were established by the Italian freedmen who colonised to Corinth. These renowned social and cult unions not only secured the Roman identity of the city but also enhanced the Emperor's reputation and promoted the imperial cult. Two excavated buildings at the city-centre, the Southeast Building and the Roman Cellar Building, should be identified as seats (scholae) of the Roman colleges. Even in turbulent times such as in periods of civil wars, Corinth remained devoted to Rome, the Senate and every new ruler that ascended to the imperial throne. Due to her devotion, she was beneficed and supported by many Emperors, especially after earthquakes, famines and pandemics. Furhtermore, thanks to is strategic position, an intersection of sea and land routes, many Emperors visited the city and were honoured by the Corinthians. Texts and finds record or even imply visits by Marc Antony, Augustus, Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Hadrian, Lucius Verus, Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, as well as high-ranking magistrates of the Empire and members of superior colleges such as the Sodales Augustales and the Fratres Arvales. This special relation with the imperial court as well as the memory of the founder Julius Caesar, were the main reasons for the development and promotion of an imperial identity that was never abandoned, even when the city revived its Greek past and participated in the Panhellion as an old Greek city. The imperial identity of the Colonia remained dominant from the 1st century A.D. until the 2nd century A.D. and was proudly maintained until the late 4th century A.D.
Language Greek
Subject Imperial Identity of Roman Corinth
Αυτοκρατορική Ταυτότητα Ρωμαϊκής Κορίνθου
Issue date 2021-12-09
Collection   School/Department--School of Philosophy--Department of History and Archaeology--Doctoral theses
  Type of Work--Doctoral theses
Permanent Link https://elocus.lib.uoc.gr//dlib/e/9/e/metadata-dlib-1643617778-272880-14257.tkl Bookmark and Share
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