Re-Understanding Pompeii: A History of our Interpretation of the Lost City
(2015) Inquiries Journal — Vol. 7, n° 10, p. 1-2 (2015)
Files
A.pdf
Open Access - Adobe PDF
- 0 B
Details
- Authors
Van de Ven, Annelies 
- Abstract
- The catastrophic demise of the Oscan-Roman city of Pompeii in 79 A.D. left its mark on our collective psyche. Its remains have long been a staple of archaeology and ancient history curricula while its demise is described in countless books and has served as inspiration for artists since ancient times. Two motifs that recur in discussions of the ancient city are those of mortality and sexuality, both themes that oscillate between the realms of fascination and taboo. This paper will use cognitive methodologies within archaeology to analyse the layers of semantic baggage that have been loaded onto the site since its interment. By showing the ways in which the site has been repossessed as a vehicle of our own desires and fears, it will elucidate the more subliminal aspects of our relationship with the ancient world.
- Affiliations
Citations
Van de Ven, A. (2015). Re-Understanding Pompeii: A History of our Interpretation of the Lost City. Inquiries Journal, 7(10), 1-2. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/213686 (Original work published 2015)