Caroline Vout is a cultural historian whose work focuses on ancient art and its reception. She examines how visual culture and eroticism shaped perceptions of the ancient world and how these perceptions are reflected in art and society. Her approach is grounded in a deep analysis of materials and visual elements, revealing the complexities of human relationships and power structures in ancient Rome and Greece. Through her publications and exhibitions, she brings past cultures to life, exploring their enduring influence.
Focusing on erotic imagery from the sixth century BC to the fourth century AD, along with Neoclassical art from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, this book offers a detailed visual analysis that reveals new insights into Greek and Roman culture. It explores the significance of erotic art, transcending mere discussions of sexual practices or social history, to examine the enduring impact and meaning of confronting sexuality through visual representation.
This is an ambitious, highly original, and timely book. It is a sophisticated contribution to art history, classics, classical archaeology, and classical reception studies, and will be essential reading for scholars in all these fields.--Elizabeth Prettejohn, author of The Modernity of Ancient Sculpture: Greek Sculpture and Modern Art from Winckelmann to Picasso
The book delves into the intricate relationship between Roman imperial power and the portrayal of sexual dynamics. It examines how sexual relations were not only a reflection of societal norms but also a means of constructing and challenging authority within the empire. By analyzing various representations, the work highlights the significance of sexuality in understanding the complexities of power, identity, and resistance in ancient Rome.
The Greek and Roman body is often seen as flawless - cast from life in buff bronze and white marble, to sit upon a pedestal. But this, of course, is a lie. Here, classicist Caroline Vout reaches beyond texts and galleries to expose Greek and Roman bodies for what they truly anxious, ailing, imperfect, diverse, and responsible for a legacy as lasting as their statues. Taking us on a gruesome, thrilling journey, she taps into the questions that those in the Greek and Roman worlds asked about their bodies - where do we come from? What makes us different from gods and animals? What happens to our bodies, and the forces that govern them, when we die? Vout also reveals the surprising actions people often took to transform their bodies - from sophisticated surgery and contraception to body oils, cosmetics and early gym memberships. You've seen the paintings, read the philosophers and heard the myths - now here's the classical body in all its flesh and blood glory.
Focusing on the concept of 'the city of seven hills,' the book delves into its historical significance and how this idea has influenced perceptions and experiences of urban life throughout the ages. It examines the interplay between geography and culture, revealing how this enduring cliché has shaped narratives and identities associated with the city since ancient times.
This book explores the cliche of 'the city of seven hills' and how, since antiquity, it has shaped experience of the city.