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Description of research
The venatio in Roman Africa
In comparison with gladiator combat and public executions, the venationes (staged animal fights) have received little scholarly attention. Moreover, despite abundant evidence for arena spectacles in the Roman provinces, most studies focus on the situation in the city of Rome.
This research project aims to investigate the meaning and function of venationes in a provincial civic context, that of Roman Africa (0 - 400 AD). The African case is particularly interesting because the wild animals (ferae africanae) were captured in the inlands of North-Africa and exported throughout the Empire by African professionals. Considering this close personal involvement in the organization of beast fights and the physicalproximity of the wild animals, it seems likely that the Africans' disposition towards venationes differed from that of other provincials or urban Romans. I attempt not only to reach a better understanding of the venatio in Roman-African civic life, but also to differentiate between amphitheater games in Rome and in this particular provincial context.
Education & CV
- Research master Ancient Studies (VU = Free University Amsterdam)
- Erasmus exchange program Epigraphy & Archaeology (Università La Sapienza, Rome)
- Bachelor History (UU = University of Utrecht)
For my CV I refer to my Linked-In profile:
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Papers & Lectures
- 'Wet-nursing in the Roman Empire. Indifference and affection’, Conference: Oikos – Familia: The family in ancient Greco-Roman society. Framing the discipline in the 21st century, Göteborg, November 2009.
- ‘Nutrices in de Romeinse Keizertijd’,
Honours & Awards
- Stipendium for research trip to Tunisia, Stichting Utrechts Philologisch Studiefonds, October 2010.
- Visiting research student at Royal Dutch Institute in Rome (KNIR), February-March 2009.
Other activities
- Organization OIKOS PhD-Masterclass 'The use of the past in Antiquity' at Royal Dutch Institute in Rome (KNIR), june 2012.
- Organization of international colloquium 'Gender and the Roman City' at University of Amsterdam, December 2011.
- Teaching introductory course 'Sources&Literature Ancient History' at University of Amsterdam, 1st semester 2011/2012.