Abstract: Cet article s’interroge sur le rôle de Domnica, épouse de l’empereur Valens, dont l’importance historique demeure très obscure en raison de la rareté des sources disponibles. Présentée comme influençant la politique religieuse de Valens, elle apparaît plus tard comme une actrice essentielle de la défense de Constantinople après Andrinople. Domnica a ainsi été une intermédiaire cruciale entre les dynasties valentinienne et théodosienne, et ce, en dépit de l’agentivité limitée accordée aux femmes durant l’Antiquité tardive. Abstract: This study investigates the role of Domnica, wife of Emperor Valens, whose historical presence is largely obscured by the scarcity of available sources. She is portrayed as exerting influence over Valens’ religious policies and later emerging as a pivotal figure in the defense of Constantinople following Adrianople. Despite the constraints on female agency in late antiquity, Domnica served as a crucial intermediary between the Valentinian and Theodosian dynasties.
In the Pro Milone, Cicero makes vague and unsupported accusations that P. Clodius had intended to propose laws dangerous to the Republic had he been elected praetor in 52 BC. Cicero's allegations are usually understood by scholars as exaggerated references to a legislative program concerning the rights of Roman freedmen that Clodius hoped to pass.This paper argues that the evidence does not support the conclusion that Clodius intended to propose legislation as praetor.
Anth. Pal. 9.161, in which Pyrrha interrupts Argentarius' reading of Hesiod, is usually read as presenting a contrast between Argentarius' erotic poetry and the serious Works and Days. Instead, I argue that the epigram characterizes Argentarius as an erotic reader, who finds even "serious" poems potentially arousing.
This paper takes a new look at four fables preserved in PRyl. 493, a Greek literary papyrus from the first century CE and the earliest example of an ancient fable collection. In contrast to previous research, I illustrate the fables' literary merit and embeddedness in ancient cultural discourses. I provide a comparative analysis of their narrative and stylistic features, taking into account the dialogue they invite with different passages of ancient literature.
This article discusses evidence that the name Kappa epsilon rho kappa nu lambda alpha sigma was mentioned in Sappho's vita or perhaps even in her poems as a Deckname, a pseudonym intended to conceal a person's true identity. Catullus' very similar use of the Latin Deckname Mentula might not be coincidental as Mentula resembles Kappa epsilon rho kappa nu lambda alpha sigma both in form and meaning. Sappho thus emerges as a major influence not only on Catullus' love poetry and wedding songs, but also on the Roman's poetic invectives.
Using the interpretative theme of clothing as a guide, this article contemplates some of the possible life experiences the ten-year-old enslaved girl Abaskantis, whose life is witnessed only by the bill of her sale in 142 CE.
This article explores the significance of the Termeran double-siglos CNG 123, 161 (2023), whose obverse bears the familiar lion forepart facing to the right, but whose reverse has a head of the goddess Athena wearing a crested helmet. The adoption of Athenian iconography in place of the imagery of the Achaemenid heroic canon suggests a significant change in self-representation in Termera c. 470, with the arrival of Athenian hegemony over the region in the aftermath of the foundation of the Delian League.
The owl of Athena and Athens is so conspicuous that other aspects of this bird risk being neglected. This contribution focuses on the hunting of owls and their use in fowling to elucidate the meaning of representations of owls on vases used in the symposion and in other contexts.
