Three uses of the Pygmy and the aethiops at Pompeii

Decorating, “Othering”, and warding off demons

Datos Bibliográficos

ID20056782
AutoresJohn R Clarke (autor de correspondencia)
Año2006
Páginas155-169
Fecha de publicación2006-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoCHAPTER
RevistaNile into Tiber (SOURCE_BOOK)
EditorialBrill (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1163/ej.9789004154209.i-562.43
OpenAlexW1493163246
ISBN9789004154209
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas6

This chapter demonstrates that visual representations of the Aethiops and the pygmy could serve three principal functions. They could simply be an amusing part of a decorative scheme in the house, garden, or bath. They could also represent the Colonial Other. Or, they could avert demons. When is the representation of the Aethiops and the pygmy decorative, and when is it apotropaic? Even more difficult, when do these supposed inhabitants of the province of Egypt stand for the Other, and therefore the colonial power of Rome? Since Miguel John Versluys has recently articulated the colonial aspects of the pygmy-Other in his book, Aegyptiaca Romana, the chapter concentrates principally on how the constructed pygmydwarf and the Aethiops might have averted demons. It focuses on the art of Roman Italy between 80 B.C. and A.D. 79.Keywords: Aegyptiaca Romana; Aethiops; Demons; Pompeii; Pygmy

Archaeology · Art · Art history · Colonialism · Political science · Visual arts · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Classical Antiquity Studies · Historical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies · History · Law