Overview

Myths on the Edge of Empire presents the findings of an extensive investigation into how classical mythology spread across Roman Britain, revealing which characters and deities were the most prevalent, in which contexts, and within which physical media. The reader is initially guided through a series of case studies that use individual mythical entities (Minerva, Mars, Medusa, Hercules, Mercury, and Cupid) to introduce key concepts and observations, as well as drawing attention to the pitfalls of the terminology often employed in explaining complex cultural interchanges. Building upon these findings, more complex patterns are then discussed in thematic chapters that focus on military deities, how myths were combined or displayed together, and the extent to which urban environments were fertile ground for their employment, as well as a typological breakdown and discussion of material culture. As a reference, this book presents a series of graphical displays, one per myth, that show quantities of artefacts, locations, find contexts, and prevalence over time. Finally, the book classifies and explains the vectors that were used in the cultural transmission of mythology throughout a province that was at the very edge of the Roman Empire.

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9781805831433

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Steven Paul Turner worked as a history instructor in Tokyo for many years, after which he completed a PhD at Lampeter in archaeology, history, and anthropology. It was that thesis which formed the basis for this book. He previously worked in publishing and the health service in an IT role, and so is interested in research that requires a multidisciplinary approach. He spends his spare time painting miniature historical armies and researching family trees.

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