Children in the Visual Arts of Imperial Rome

Description

Modern approaches to Roman imperialism have characterized Romanization as a benign or neutral process of cultural exchange between Roman and non-Roman, conqueror and conquered. Though supported by some literary and archaeological evidence, these theories are not reflected in the visual imagery of the Roman ruling elite. In official imperial art, Roman children are most often shown in depictions of peaceful public gatherings before the emperor, whereas non-Roman children appear only in scenes of submission, triumph, or violent military activity. Images of children, those most fraught with potential in Roman art, underscore the contrast between Roman and non-Roman and as a group present a narrative of Roman identity. As Jeannine Uzzi argues in this study, the stark contrast between images of Roman and non-Roman children conveys the ruling elite's notions of what it meant to be Roman.

Jeannine Uzzi is assistant professor of classics at the University of Southern Maine.