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Self-Presentation and Display of Paideia by Roman Imperial Villa Owners. The Case of the Cosmological Mosaic in Mérida
Abstract
In the Roman Imperial period, paideia and, relatedly, language were used as important tools by the social elite to prove and consolidate their status in a society characterised by social mobility. It is therefore not surprising that this phenomenon also manifested itself in decorative home furnishings, as the education acquired could be showcased during receptions and banquets to guests of similar social status. The owners of the villae and domus were able to stage themselves and their specific education in a variety of ways. A special example for this is the cosmological mosaic in Mérida, which is unique in many respects. Some of the 32 preserved personifications depicting the structure of the cosmos are characterized by a tense relationship between iconography and name inscriptions. These cases show that the cultural practice of embellished and riddled speaking, popular from the High Imperial period onwards, was applied to a visual medium. This enabled the patron to display his rhetoric abilities and high level of education to his invited guests.
Keywords
References
- Bibliography – Kaynaklar
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Archaeological Science
Journal Section
Research Article
Authors
Publication Date
November 11, 2025
Submission Date
December 31, 2024
Acceptance Date
September 29, 2025
Published in Issue
Year 2025 Number: 18
APA
Honikel, A.-L. (2025). Self-Presentation and Display of Paideia by Roman Imperial Villa Owners. The Case of the Cosmological Mosaic in Mérida. Journal of Mosaic Research, 18, 197-209. https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.1814177
AMA
1.Honikel AL. Self-Presentation and Display of Paideia by Roman Imperial Villa Owners. The Case of the Cosmological Mosaic in Mérida. JMR. 2025;(18):197-209. doi:10.26658/jmr.1814177
Chicago
Honikel, Anna-Laura. 2025. “Self-Presentation and Display of Paideia by Roman Imperial Villa Owners. The Case of the Cosmological Mosaic in Mérida”. Journal of Mosaic Research, nos. 18: 197-209. https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.1814177.
EndNote
Honikel A-L (November 1, 2025) Self-Presentation and Display of Paideia by Roman Imperial Villa Owners. The Case of the Cosmological Mosaic in Mérida. Journal of Mosaic Research 18 197–209.
IEEE
[1]A.-L. Honikel, “Self-Presentation and Display of Paideia by Roman Imperial Villa Owners. The Case of the Cosmological Mosaic in Mérida”, JMR, no. 18, pp. 197–209, Nov. 2025, doi: 10.26658/jmr.1814177.
ISNAD
Honikel, Anna-Laura. “Self-Presentation and Display of Paideia by Roman Imperial Villa Owners. The Case of the Cosmological Mosaic in Mérida”. Journal of Mosaic Research. 18 (November 1, 2025): 197-209. https://doi.org/10.26658/jmr.1814177.
JAMA
1.Honikel A-L. Self-Presentation and Display of Paideia by Roman Imperial Villa Owners. The Case of the Cosmological Mosaic in Mérida. JMR. 2025;:197–209.
MLA
Honikel, Anna-Laura. “Self-Presentation and Display of Paideia by Roman Imperial Villa Owners. The Case of the Cosmological Mosaic in Mérida”. Journal of Mosaic Research, no. 18, Nov. 2025, pp. 197-09, doi:10.26658/jmr.1814177.
Vancouver
1.Anna-Laura Honikel. Self-Presentation and Display of Paideia by Roman Imperial Villa Owners. The Case of the Cosmological Mosaic in Mérida. JMR. 2025 Nov. 1;(18):197-209. doi:10.26658/jmr.1814177