Jump to content
UNRV Ancient Roman Empire Forums
Sign in to follow this  
caesar novus

new book debunks roman shopping

Recommended Posts

We definitely know less than we think, there's a lot of conjecture paraded as fact in popular histories. The case of Trajan's forum also illustrates the dangers of reconstruction, the 'markets' have been so well established as fact it's almost impossible to reverse it. It's not enough to just change the text on a sign when the buildings so obviously look like shops.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sounds like it blows apart some myths, but I think sometimes that attempts to deconstruct the past too much ends up creating a new set of myths in their place. I wonder what evidence she has to prove that Trajan's Market wasn't really a market at all. It'd be interesting to find out, although I doubt I have the cash to spare on this book. Anyone here at UNRV read it and could give us an opinion on Trajan's market?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The problem is if they have reconstructed it to artificially appear as a market, based on fancy and not evidence. Both that market and ostia antica have a lot of features that ring false to me... they dont have that slightly alien and thrilling ancient roman feel, and i asume that is due to overeager and ideological rather than archeological driven fascist era reconstruction. Well, that has been criticized, but here is a summary that puts that effort in some positive light... getting things done where moderns would delay and shrink from:

 

http://courses.umass.edu/latour/Italy/Mussolini/index.html

 

P.S. saw a good recent episode of 'unearthing ancient secrets' about roman engineering of colosseum, aquaducts, and the pantheon. I dont get why aquaducts were built sometimes half again too long in needless zig zags to maintain the gentle slope. They say to prevent wear from fast moving water, but why not save tremendous construction and ongoing maintence by having special water ladder drop downs like we do now for fish to climb? I'd suspect the builders were paid by the length, and like taxi drivers were padding the distance, but that seems too brazen.

Edited by caesar novus

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

  • Map of the Roman Empire

×