Daniëlle Slootjes

The Governor and his Subjects in the Later Roman Empire

This book presents new insights into the relationship between governors and provincial subjects in the Later Roman Empire. Discussion of provincial expectations and perception, the continuous dialogue, interdependence and reciprocity leads to a better understanding of Late Roman provincial administration.

Local elites and power in the Roman world : modern theories and models

In recent years, modern scholars have applied various methodologies to the study of local elites in the Roman Empire. Judith Perkins in Roman Imperial Identities in the Early Christian Era examines the concept of elite, like many other classicists, through an analysis of written texts—in her case, Greek novels and political writings of the first and second centuries. Models and theories borrowed from cultural anthropology or sociology—such as Michael Manns sociological theory of power—offer a new way to resolve difficulties of interpretation that traditional methodological tools cannot address.

Making History with Coins: Nero from a Numismatic Perspective

Analysis of the coinage during Neros reign as Roman emperor reveals a much less uniform image of Nero than is usually depicted in historical literature. The case of Nero exemplifies the importance of an interdisciplinary methodological framework. A “pick and mix” numismatic methodology devised in support of a Neronian ideology gleaned via literary evidence may lead to a superficially convincing image of the emperor, but it will not do justice to the complexities surrounding his reign.

Bishops and Their Position of Power in the Late Third Century CE: The Cases of Gregory Thaumaturgus and Paul of Samosata

This study offers an examination of the position and public role of bishops within their local urban communities in the late third century CE. Two case studies, of the bishops Gregory Thaumaturgus and Paul of Samosata, explore how individual bishops searched for a way to publicly present themselves that was acceptable not only to their own congregation but especially to the general population of the city where their congregation was situated. Whereas Gregory was received with great respect and admiration in Neocaesarea, Paul’s public behavior caused negative reactions from within the Christian community of Antioch. Nevertheless, both cases reflect the struggle by which the Christian church tried to obtain a firm position within Roman society. Furthermore, this study aims to demonstrate that bishops and the Christian communities that they represented enjoyed imperial recognition several decades prior to the conversion of Constantine.