A Glimpse into Race and Representation in Roman Artifacts
Author:
Laura Ancuta ’25
Co-Authors:
Faculty Mentor(s):
Dr. Kris Trego, Classics & Ancient Mediterranean Studies
Funding Source:
n/a
Abstract
This research presents a Roman terracotta oil lamp, featuring the stylized head of a presumed African male, investigated for its cultural, anthropological, and artistic significance. The lamp, likely produced between the 1st and 3rd centuries CE, was part of a private collection until its recent donation to the Samek Art Museum. Its iconography raises questions about Roman perceptions of identity and otherness, explored through comparative analysis with similar artifacts from the British Museum and other collections. By situating the lamp within the broader cultural milieu of Roman art and material culture, this research examines its role as both a functional object and a symbolic artifact. The analysis places the lamp in the context of Roman practices of representation, stereotyping, and cultural hybridity, highlighting how everyday objects serve as reflections of societal narratives. This research contributes to ongoing discourse on material culture and the artistic expression of identity in antiquity.