Aaron Wilcox

Publication Date

1-1-2009

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Bell, Sinclair

Degree Name

B.A. (Bachelor of Arts)

Legacy Department

School of Art

Abstract

When dealing with ancient artifacts, scholars often forget that they are dealing with a completely different culture from their own. It is the aim of this paper to not only re-emphasize the fact that Western culture has only been influenced by Rome, not born from it, but also to attempt to create a valid scenario that puts the reader into a similar mindset as that of the Roman viewer. This study outlines and describes the Roman sexual system in order to establish the existence of negative/contradictory categories to which some people may be associated. The study then dissects the portion of Ovid’s Metamorphoses that deals with Hermaphroditus to show the linguistic inflection that emphasized the ambiguity of the main characters. Finally, it examines the visual representations of Hermaphroditus to explain how Romans may have actually viewed the material.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

32 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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