| Key objective: Where Greek influences on Roman cultural innovation have always been dominant and well studied, the picture is not balanced and complete without an integrated understanding of the second important influence by Egypt. An integrated synthesis based on analyses of different forms of appropriation of Egypt in different contexts and in different sources will deepen our knowledge on the Roman motives for the selection and use of 'foreign' elements. The Romans were well aware of the cultural dimensions of innovation and in the end their tradition looked like a blend of heterogeneous elements. This project aims at deepening our understanding of Roman cultural innovation by focussing on the role of Egypt. The challenge is to provide the next step in our understanding of Egypt in the Roman world by means of an integrated synthesis. The project will use a multi-disciplinary research strategy that puts the process of Roman cultural innovation central. For the first time in this field, archaeological, archaeometric, historical and written sources, methods and analyses will be combined. The project will focus on the relation between archaeological data and literary-historical sources and will investigate why and how Egyptian elements were selected and used, and how they functioned in the Roman system of cultural innovation. Through this original research strategy I will be able to provide a novel synthesis regarding Egyptian influences on the Roman world. This synthesis concerning the role and meaning of Egypt will subsequently be compared to the role other 'foreign' cultures (Etruscan, Greek, Celtic, Syrian, Jewish) played in the process of Roman appropriation. By this comparative perspective the project will be able to throw a new light on the functioning of cultural innovation in the Roman Mediterranean and to add to more general discussions on the cultural aspects of globalisation. |
