Romanitas - Revista de Estudos Grecolatinos
Romanitas – Revista de Estudos Grecolatinos was born, at first, from a finding: the visible lack, in Brazil, of journals of an interdisciplinary nature committed to the dissemination of intellectual production around Greek and Roman society, a reality in sharp contrast with the increase in the interest aroused, in the last decades, by Classical Studies, as it is possible to conclude based on the growing number of researchers involved, at all levels of academic formation, with research projects on the past of Greece and Rome, which motivated the team of Laboratory of Studies on the Roman Empire/Section ES, linked to the History Postgraduate Program of the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes), to found the journal.
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Roman expansion and integration of provincial territories
Interview with Vagner Carvalheiro Porto, professor at the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology of the University of São Paulo (MAE/USP). He holds a PhD (2007) and a Master's degree (2001) in Archaeology from USP, and a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of Santo Amaro (1994). He coordinates the Laboratory of Provincial Roman Archaeology (LARP/USP), where he conducts research on the Roman provinces of Syria-Palestine and the Iberian Peninsula. He also leads the research groups “Ancient Numismatics” and “Interactive Archaeology and Electronic Simulations” (ARISE). Additionally, he serves as co-editor-in-chief of the Revista do Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia da USP and is a CNPq research productivity fellow. Among his most recent research projects are those carried out at the archaeological site of Tel Dor, in Israel. His work focuses on the analysis of Roman expansion and the integration of conquered territories into the imperial order.
Dossier: Processes of Expansion and Territorial Integration in the Ancient Mediterranean
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Introduction of the dossier: "Processes of expansion and integration in the ancient Mediterranean".
The relationship between humans and food initially arises as a primary response to the stimulus of hunger, as a natural instinct for survival. The oldest civilizations emerged where sustenance was guaranteed, and their evolution is closely connected to advancements in the productive sphere. In archaic Roman society, food consisted of products derived from an agricultural and pastoral economy, but contacts with the Etruscans and Greeks permeated Roman culture with new values: the banquet became associated with pomp and luxury as a tangible and necessarily manifest expression of real wealth; even wine became one of the characteristic and most important elements to demonstrate this social status. The aim of this text is to present how wine, unknown to the Greeks and Romans in the archaic period, became a fundamental food on the Roman table and how the Romans developed specific techniques for the cultivation and production of this beverage. In the second part of this article, I will present the results of an experiment conducted between 2009 and 2013 in which we aimed to verify if a wine considered luxurious by the Romans could be considered a quality wine today.
Dossiê: Medicina e Alimentação na Antiguidade
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The historiography on Domitian in three acts
In this article, we propose an analysis of the representations of Emperor Titus Flavius Domitian (81-96) in the texts of antiquarian historians confined to the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. We identify three perspectives on this controversial Princeps. In the period spanning from the late 19th century to the mid-1930s, the traditionalist perspective stands out, wherein, despite its proponents recognizing the importance of material culture in historical analyses, primacy is still given to textual sources. In the second phase, between the mid-1940s and 1989, revisionist texts emerge, in which the characterization of tyranny, inherited from the traditionalists, began to be questioned by historians through the exploration of material culture. Finally, in the rhetorical perspective, which unfolds between the 1990s and the first two decades of the 21st century, historians and classicists are observed to understand the rhetorical construction of both textual sources and material documentation.
Copyright (c) 2024 Irlan de Sousa Cotrim https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Interview with John Wilkins, Emeritus Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, a specialist in the History of Food and Medicine in the Greco-Roman World, and a member of the scientific committee of the journal Food and History, published by the European Institute of Food History and Cultures.
Copyright (c) 2024 John Wilkins, Margarida Maria de Carvalho, Nathalia Monseff Junqueira https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Introduction of the dossier: "Medicine and Food in Antiquity".
Patronage, Leadership, and Conflict in the Republic
In this article, we aim to analyze the role of veterans between 64 and 27 BC, in the final decades of the Republic, as a support group for Julius Caesar and Octavian. During this period, the veterans emerged as a significant force, quickly co-opted by these leaders, who saw in them a resource to challenge senatorial politics. In exchange for their support, the veterans demanded material benefits, consolidating a patronage–client relationship. This bond not only characterized their actions but also contributed to the profound social transformations that marked the Republican crisis.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ayla Fernanda de Oliveira https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Ethnographic reports from Antiquity reveal some societies’ singularities listed in their pages. Political, military and everyday aspects are reported, imprinting mythological and rational explanations, which are characteristics of the thought developed in the ancient world. The aim of this article is to show the Egyptians’ diet, described in the narratives of the historians Herodotus (ca. 484-425 BC) and Diodorus Siculus (ca. 90-30 BC) as well as the geographer Strabo (ca. 64 BC - 23 BC). These travelers, who wrote in different historical contexts, were chosen for several reasons. The first one is due to their stay in Egypt for some years and because they shared a common culture, writing consistently in Greek. Such narratives shed light on the processes of food production in Egypt and possible changes, if any, from the Saitic to the Hellenistic periods. In addition, we will support our analysis with the material culture produced by the Egyptians in terms of food preparation, so that we can observe the way this society prepared bread and beer.
Copyright (c) 2024 Nathalia Monseff Junqueira https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Brief reflections on History of Medicine and the use of 'garum' as medication
In this contribution, I seek to provide a very brief comparative perspective between ancient and modern medicine, outlining a historical background that I believe is pertinent and didactic for my main theme, which is the use of garum as a medication in ancient medicine and veterinary medicine. In doing so, I present the human practice of care under a more revealing time continuum, attempting to demonstrate that our current level of knowledge about medicine is very recent and that we need to respect the legacy of the ancients.
Copyright (c) 2024 Paulo Duprat https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
This paper aims to establish an overview comprising Mediterranean Archaeology and Ethnoarchaeology to discuss themes such as migration, memory, and temporality. The study of contemporary societies and their relationship with the material world can help to understand the intersections between the past and the present of societies that lived in the same geographical space of the Mediterranean. Thus, we will explore the navigation scenario, focusing on shipwrecks. Although such phenomena occur for different reasons, they are felt and expressed by distinct societies, offering archaeological interpretations of the past, while also serving as a possibility of archaeology of the present.
Copyright (c) 2024 Letícia Aga Pereira Passos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Dossiê: Vertentes da linguagem visual nas sociedades clássica e pós-clássica
Presentation ofvolume 23 of Romanitas Journal.
Copyright (c) 2024 Edjalma Nepomoceno Pina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Food, water and wine in the medicinal practices of Oribasius (4th century CE)
Oribasius of Pergamum was a Neoplatonic doctor from Late Antiquity, more specifically from the period of approximately 320 to 403. His work was considered for a long time to be a mere compilation of Galen. We reject this idea when we see that there are several medical supplements updated by this doctor in his time. In this article, we aim to analyze food, water, and wine in the medicinal practices of Oribasius. In terms of food, we chose to talk about red meat. All these elements are part of the medical diet written by Oribasius for Emperor Julian and his military troops.
Copyright (c) 2024 Margarida Maria de Carvalho https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Propõe-se, neste artigo, analisar a ação da documentação numismática na construção de memória e sua atuação nos conflitos políticos internos vividos por Roma durante as últimas décadas do período republicano. As moedas romanas, na condição de agentes da memória, intervinham ativamente nos conflitos. A partir da seleção de três fontes (RIC 545, RRC 448/3 e RRC 443/1), datadas de entre 49 e 28 a.C., buscamos compreender a forma particular como as peças monetárias recordavam as Guerras Civis, evitando dar visibilidade à dimensão doméstica dos conflitos e, ao mesmo tempo, enfatizando as guerras contra povos estrangeiros.
Copyright (c) 2025 Giovanni Pando Bueno https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The integration of Illyria into the Roman Empire (3rd century BC-1st century AD)
This article aims to examine the integration of Illyrian territory into the Roman Empire. We demonstrate that the Roman conquest and occupation were slow and gradual processes, extending over centuries until the establishment of the province. Between the 3rd century BC and 1st century AD, Illyrian territory was the stage of disputes, and its integration was carried out through various Roman strategies, not only military but also political and legal. Furthermore, we note the influence of the natives in this process, either through direct resistance or through established agreements. Initially, we explore the ethnic and geographic composition of Illyria in the pre-Roman context, and then we discuss the phases of the annexation of the region into the Roman Empire, addressing the natives’ resistance and the role of local elites in the integration process.
Copyright (c) 2025 Guilherme de Aquino Silva https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
In this article, we will address the characteristics that the ethical-dietary concern takes in the work of Hesiod. For this, we will analyze the recommendations that suggest a concern for a dietary issue, which stresses the health-disease dyad, inscribed in the ethos understood as a way of living. We propose an archaeological approach, which implies thinking and moving through a thicket of knowledge and discourses that constitute an underlying discursive conglomerate, without constituting a determining element of subsequent emergencies. Once each of the topics has been analyzed, we will try to think about the scope of this incipient subjectifying babbling in order to discover its ethical scope, trace and reveal what Michel Foucault understands by “politics of existence”, address an archaic fold of what represents the “arts of existence.” Ultimately, we will delve into the Hesiodic corpus to rescue what we understand as a concern for a “wisdom of life”, to think about the relationships between myth and philosophy.
Copyright (c) 2024 María Cecilia Colombani https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Pythagorean diet of Apollonius of Tyana in the biography written by Philostratus
In this text, we propose to address the representation of Apollonius of Tyana as a follower of a Pythagorean diet free from the consumption of animal meat in the biography Life of Apollonius of Tyana, written by the sophist Flávio Filóstratus (3rd century CE). We start from the observations of Marcel Detienne (1970, 1975, 1998 [1972]) that the choice for a diet without animal meat by ancient philosophical-religious groups can be considered as a rejection of the city because the sacrifice to the gods was refused. And, in the case of some Pythagoreans, it could mean a proposal for political reform of cities. Knowing this and perceiving Apollonius as politically active in the biography written by Philostratus, we will analyze the construction of his political role as a reformer and the meaning of his diet and lifestyle to achieve this.
Copyright (c) 2024 Semíramis Corsi Silva https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Martyrdom as rhetorical construction in the discourse of Augustine of Hippo (4th-5th centuries CE)
Book review of: PLOYD, A. Augustine, martyrdom, and Classical rhetoric. New York: Oxford University, 2023. 184 p.
Copyright (c) 2025 Igor Pereira SILVA https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Considerations on the Roman Empire and the development of Christianity
Book review of: CHEVITARESE, A. L.; SILVA, G. V. (org.). Cristianismos no Império Romano. Rio de Janeiro: Menocchio, 2023. 344 p.
Copyright (c) 2025 Anderson Leonardo Vaz Stein https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The present article examines the issue of the origin of Pithecusa, an ancient Greek city located on the island of Ischia, in the Gulf of Naples. It investigates the historical disputes about the city’s founders and evaluates the validity of these narratives. Over the centuries, different theories have emerged, attributing the foundation of Pithecusa to different Greek ethnic groups, such as the Euboeans or the Phoenicians. The text analyses the historical and archaeological evidence behind these theories and proposes a reflection on how to understand the complexity of ancient Pithecusa.
Copyright (c) 2024 Rodrigo Araújo de Lima https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The Roman imperialist practice in Saguntum
The process of Roman territorial annexation, as observed in the case of Sagunto, is a clear example of Roman imperialist practices. Sagunto, part of Hispania Citerior and, later, Hispania Tarraconensis, illustrates how Rome implemented its control through urban reconstruction and the co-option of local elites. The city, devastated by Carthage during the Second Punic War, was rebuilt by the Romans, who used strategies such as administrative installation and the creation of municipalities to integrate the population into the Roman power system. Annexation was not a homogeneous process, varying according to Rome’s political, economic, and strategic needs. This process also reflected the complexity and variability of the relationships between Rome and the subjugated societies, highlighting the importance of considering historical and cultural specificity in the analysis of Roman imperialism.
Copyright (c) 2025 Carlos Eduardo da Costa Campos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
In this study, we will address the main narratives about the changes that occurred in the high priesthood of Ptah from Memphis, in the Early Roman Period. The enigmatic death of the young Memphite high priest Imhotep/Padibastet IV, the last of his lineage, two days before Augustus’s entry into Alexandria, is commonly interpreted as a deed of the latter, even though recently this view has been challenged, attributing its responsibility to quarrels internal to the family of Memphite pontiffs themselves. Firstly, we will seek to understand the strategies employed by Rome, in general, and by Octavian in particular, in the search for the suppression/control/reduction of the political-social-economic prestige of the clergy. Soon after, we will show the likely influence of the clerical family on these events.
Copyright (c) 2025 Renato Pinto, Victor Braga Gurgel https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
This article examines the rhetorical and argumentative construction of the so-called “barbarian” peoples in the philosophical thought of Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4 BC–65 AD). It also considers how the author understood the complex intercultural relationships that arose on the borders of the Roman Empire, especially those of the Rhine and Danube rivers, inhabited by Germanic and Sarmatian peoples. References to non-Romans are frequent in his writings, though not presented in a systematic way. Therefore, in order to obtain a broader picture of the subject, it is necessary to consider them collectively. Based on these discursive fragments, we aim to understand how Seneca perceived the world beyond the traditional Roman limes of his time, and to what extent barbarian peoples could serve as the foundation for ethical notions consistent with the Stoicism he embraced.
Copyright (c) 2025 Cesar Luiz Jerce da Costa Junior https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
‘From Libya all of the Mediterranean coast is in its power’
In this article, the objective is to analyze how the Greek geographer Strabo of Amasia (64 BCE–24 CE) enunciated the process of Rome’s territorial expansion in North Africa. To do this, we will examine Book XVII of Geography, which contains the description of Libya. The relations established between Romans and Libyan peoples were marked by collaboration and conflict. Strabo, throughout his discourse, refers to Rome and the actions of its agents in the oikoumene, understanding Roman expansion in Libya as a process that began in the Republican period and was still ongoing in his time. It is concluded that the expansion is evidenced by terminology, exploitation of local resources, institution of provinces, and the presence of agents serving Rome in North African territory.
Copyright (c) 2025 Alaide Matias Ribeiro https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The gods in the process of Mediterranean networks
As a vital connection space, the Greeks engaged in naval practice in the Mediterranean as a fundamental component for the preservation of the polis system. However, the sea, as represented by the Greeks in textual documents, remained characterized by ambivalence, being described both as fertile – a source of fish – and as infertile – the salty sea could not sustain life like cultivated land. In order to investigate the importance of the gods and their actions in ensuring navigation safety, we will focus on debates about understanding the Mediterranean as a key element in analyses dedicated to studies of exchanges and contacts. In this context, we will examine the social condition of sailors and the performance of rituals and cult practices in their devotion to the gods, aiming to ensure a safe passage through the Mediterranean.
Copyright (c) 2025 Camila Alves Jourdan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Succession disputes on the Armenian Throne
This article examines a passage from Tacitus’ Annals, offering a concise account of a military conflict in the Roman East. Armenian, Parthian, and Roman auxiliary forces clashed amid succession disputes involving Armenians, Parthians, and Romans. Tacitus analyzes the event, shedding light on the challenges of Emperor Tiberius’ foreign policy and on the Julio-Claudian dynasty’s interactions with client kingdoms and foreign adversaries. Moreover, the passage offers insights into Roman perceptions of neighboring and frontier peoples. Finally, it highlights historical shifts in Roman imperialist perspectives during the transition from Republic to Principate.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rafael da Costa Campos https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
This study explores the crucial role that wine played in traditional Roman medicine. Wine was not only a foodstuff but also a therapeutic component used in healing practices and disease prevention. Its use has been evidenced since archaic times, in what could be termed primitive medicine and later evolved into traditional medicine based on ingredients sourced from forests and fields, often associated with libations and magical-religious rituals. Thus, this study explores the intersection between wine, magic, religion, and healing practices in ancient Rome, where the figure of the goddess Meditrina symbolizes this connection, representing healing, longevity, and wine itself. The work of Cato also provides insights into traditional Roman medicine while reflecting resistance to Greek influence and an appeal to preserve traditional Roman values. Therefore, wine is highlighted as a sacred and fundamental therapeutic substance in disease prevention and treatment, establishing a link between the practice of medicine and agriculture.
Copyright (c) 2024 Marina Regis Cavicchioli https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Healing and medical practice in Ancient Egypt, or
This paper considers what time periods appear in Ancient Egyptian medical texts and why these specifi c time periods are mentioned, an issue that has been sparingly addressed in the literature to date. The study supplies a quantitative analysis of time periods in their textual context and considers what the ‘four-day’ time period could potentially be referring to, given current medical knowledge on the topic of healing. It considers a range of theories about the time periods with reference to two case studies, on time periods in the medical Papyrus Hearst and on time periods other than four days across the pharaonic medical corpus. It considers the mythical context of the number four and concludes with an overview of whether changes in medical and religious traditions after the pharaonic period led to the use of new numbers in healing texts.
Copyright (c) 2024 Camilla Di Biase-Dyson, Michael Schultz, Nina Wagenknecht; Victor Sancassani https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
This article explores bodily care in the Hippocratic Collection, especially the ones related to maintaining fertility among married people. Bodily care encompassed different dietary prescriptions so that food was part of a larger framework, in which both body procedures and diet were considered part of the Hippocratic treatment. Among the medical recommendations, one interests us particularly: wine’s internal uses as a remedy and food for the sick. From the intersection of the treatises On Ancient Medicine, Affections, Nature of Man and Sterility, alongside Aristophanes’ testimony, I analyze the Hippocratic dietary concept to grasp the connection between wine, sex, and fertility in Greek medicine of the classical period.
Copyright (c) 2024 Bárbara Alexandre Aniceto https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Transportation, sale and consumption of food in Antioquia (IV-V century)
In this article, we intend to shed light on the transport, sell and consumption of food kinds in Antioch, the metropolis of the Syrian-Coele province, in the fourth and fifth centuries, through the examination of the speeches by Libanius, one of the most important ancient orators who was born in the city. Moreover, we also examine the so-called Mosaic of Megalopsychia, a polychromatic opus tessellatum found in Yakto, a district of Antioch, by the archaeologists who took part in the excavations campaigns of the town and its vicinity between 1932 and 1939.
Copyright (c) 2024 Gilvan Ventura da Silva, Érica Cristhyane Morais da Silva https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0