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The Roman life course

A View From the Inscriptions

Bibliographic Data

ID7175151
AuthorsLouise Revell (University of Southampton, corresponding author)
Year2005
Volume8
Issue1
Pages43-63
Publication date2005-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Journal of Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1461-9571 • E-ISSN: 1741-2722
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1461957105058209
OpenAlexW2044387294
LanguageEN
Citations received29
References cited28

Epitaphs inscribed on stone record biographical information about the deceased, and in certain cases, the age at death. However, it has been demonstrated that these ages on Roman epitaphs are not an accurate reflection of the demographics of death, but are subject to cultural bias. Using the idea of the ‘life course’, this article explores these cultural biases and their relationship to age and gender structures. Material from Italy suggests that these are tied into ideologies of gender, with adulthood defined by the transition to magistrate for men and wife for women. Material from other areas demonstrates different patterns, and in the case of Etruria, these are shown to be a negotiation between pre-Roman and Romanized customs. The phenomenon of ‘age-rounding’ is also argued to be part of these ideas of correct age

Ancient history · Genealogy · Ideology · Inscribed figure · Phenomenon · Political science · Politics · Residence · Romanization · Sociology · Subject (documents · Wife · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Classical Antiquity Studies · Demography · Historical and Architectural Studies · History · Law · Philosophy

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Unique citing works29
Citations per year1,61
Citation span2008 - 2025 (18)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 29
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