Hypogeum of the Aurelii: A new interpretation as the collegiate tomb of professional scribae

The frescoes in the Hypogeum of the Aurelii, a mysterious funerary monument in ancient Rome, are examined in a new interpretation that suggests they depict a world of professional pride among a group of 'white-collar workers' rather than religious significance. The study challenges previous theories and reveals a community that valued the contributions of women and children in their profession, providing a sense of comparative equality in a strictly hierarchical and male-dominated society.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 212 pages
\n Publication date: 31 January 2019
\n Publisher: Archaeopress
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The Hypogeum of the Aurelii: A New Interpretation as the Collegiate Tomb of Professional Scribae delves into the enigmatic frescoes of one of ancient Rome's most mysterious funerary monuments. The three chambers of the Hypogeum, named after a mosaic inscription in one of the surviving chambers, contain a diverse array of images that have long been considered an exemplar of early Christian or Gnostic iconography. One hundred years after the monument's discovery, Dr. Bradley challenges previous theories and concludes that the pictures, rather than having religious significance, reveal a world of professional pride among a group of what we might today call 'white-collar workers.' Although not among the rich and famous of Imperial Rome, the deceased nevertheless rose from a state of slavery to positions within the bureaucracy at the center of an empire at its height. Although part of a strictly hierarchical and male-dominated society, the community to which the Aurelii belonged provided an environment of comparative equality: a community that acknowledged the contributions and expertise of both women and children in their profession. The pride in their achievement is reflected in the decoration of the tomb in which they expected to spend eternity. This study, the first in modern times to examine all the extant images in detail, will be of interest not only to historians of ancient Roman art but also to social historians who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the lives of those who contributed to the operation of an empire.

\n Weight: 760g\n
Dimension: 205 x 290 x 19 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781789690477\n \n