Households in Context: Dwelling in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt

Households in Context provides a new perspective on everyday dwelling practices and the interactions of families and individuals with larger social and cultural structures, focusing on households and domestic life in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt. It highlights the power of the everyday and the role of quotidian experiences, objects, and images in creating the worlds of the people who live with them.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 15 January 2024
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Shifting the focus from monumental temples, tombs, and elite material and visual culture to households and domestic life, Households in Context offers a crucial new perspective on everyday dwelling practices and the interactions of families and individuals with larger social and cultural structures. By centering on households, the book emphasizes the power of the everyday: the critical role of quotidian experiences, objects, and images in creating the worlds of the people who live with them.

The contributors to this book, drawn from various disciplines, share contemporary research on houses and households in both Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt. Their work aims to reshape our understanding of ancient people's lived experiences of family, community, and society. By bringing together archaeology and history of Greco-Roman Egypt with research on dwelling, daily practice, and materiality, Households in Context reveals how ancient households functioned as laboratories for social, political, economic, and religious change.

The book is organized into five sections, each exploring different aspects of household life. The first section, "Households and Space," examines the spatial organization and layout of houses, including the use of different rooms and spaces for various activities. The second section, "Households and Identity," explores how households shaped and reflected individual and collective identities, including gender, age, and social status. The third section, "Households and Material Culture," explores the material possessions and artifacts associated with households, including furniture, pottery, and clothing. The fourth section, "Households and Power," examines the relationships between households and larger social and political structures, including the role of households in the formation of social hierarch. The fifth section, "Conclusion," summarizes the key findings and implications of the book.

Contributors to Households in Context include renowned scholars from both Egypt and abroad, each bringing their unique expertise and perspectives to the study of households. Youssri Abdelwahed, Richard Alston, Anna Lucille Boozer, Paola Davoli, David Frankfurter, Jennifer Gates-Foster, Melanie Godsey, Darlene L. Brooks Hedstrom, Sabine R. Huebner, Gregory Marouard, Miriam Müller, Lisa Nevett, Bérangère Redon, Bethany Simpson, Ross I. Thomas, Dorothy J. Thompson, and Ross I. Thomas, among others, contribute to the book.

In conclusion, Households in Context offers a groundbreaking approach to the study of Greco-Roman Egypt, shedding light on the lived experiences of ordinary people and their interactions with larger social and cultural structures. By focusing on households, the book provides a rich and nuanced understanding of ancient society, challenging traditional narratives and opening up new avenues for research and interpretation. As such, it is an essential resource for scholars and students of ancient history, archaeology, and social sciences.

Weight: 907g
Dimension: 254 x 178 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501771309