Echoes of History Daily Life in the Roman Empire
Nov 3, 2025
In this enlightening discussion, Dr. Anne Chen, an Associate Professor at Bard College and director of the International Digital Dura-Europos Archive, delves into daily life in the Roman Empire. She explores how archaeology reveals the intricacies of everyday activities often overlooked in texts. Discover the significance of Dura-Europos, a time capsule of cultures, and how modern methods help rediscover social dynamics, including women’s roles. Dr. Chen's insights highlight the empire as a borrower of cultures, showcasing a rich tapestry of coexisting traditions.
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Archaeology Fills Textual Blind Spots
- Archaeology complements biased written sources by revealing everyday objects, clothing, and marks that texts omit.
- Dr Anne Chen shows material remains can recover experiences of women, slaves, and non-elites lost in literary records.
Dura-Europos Preserves Perishable Life
- Exceptional preservation sites like Dura-Europos capture organic materials that usually decay, offering fuller daily-life evidence.
- These preserved textiles, papyrus, and leather let researchers see a broader material culture than typical digs allow.
A Siege Created A Time Capsule
- Dura-Europos sat on the Euphrates and passed through Seleucid, Parthian, and Roman control from 300 BCE to 256 CE.
- Its siege-era bulwark inadvertently sealed and preserved painted synagogues and an early church under sand.