Papers by Benjamin Elliott
In the course of this investigation, three major points were examined to ascertain the relevance ... more In the course of this investigation, three major points were examined to ascertain the relevance and standing the Roman emperor had with regards to the people of the empire. The first of the three points that were covered were religious representations and practices, drawing on a series of primary and secondary scholarship, focusing on Constantine, and the role he played in the ideas of religion and spiritual orchestration, noting the pragmatic nature of his reign with regards to the safety of the people. The second, was to examine the cult of the imperial personality, this time focusing on the reign of Augustus (Octavian), looking at the development of social spaces in relation to his image and legitimised inheritance, and the nature of his physical, as well as divine image as an orchestrator of peace and war, relating his divine authority and rule to all those people who worked and lived in the confines of the empire. Thirdly, was to asses political and administrative organisation, using the emperor Trajan as the backdrop of the investigation, looking at how the emperor was intimately involved in the process of the decision making that directly affected and influenced the people who were subject to them, such as laws and edicts. All three segments of the investigation were geared to looking not just at the importance the emperors played in Roma, but also how their actions, decrees, and character influenced and affected the lives of the Roman people abroad, in other geographical localities within the empire. The purpose of this investigation, was to concentrate not on the intricacies of this relationship, but on the broader scope of the emperor's importance to the people of the empire.
Over the past seven months, working from ancient sources dating to between the 1 st-3 rd century ... more Over the past seven months, working from ancient sources dating to between the 1 st-3 rd century AD, experiments have been conducted into the manufacture and practical application of Roman soldier's footwear (Caligae). Utilising as many traditional methods of manufacture as possible, and constructing two pairs of Caligae, practical experiments were conducted over a series of terrains and under a variety of weather conditions to ascertain the durability, practicality, and comfort of Roman soldiers' footwear. Taking inspiration from contemporary Roman textual sources and archaeological data, the purpose of this paper is to add clarification to our understanding of Roman material culture, by reproducing a key component of clothing that would have been a primary item of personal attire, and a necessary tool utilised in daily life and warfare.
Over the course of several weeks, in 2023, experiments were conducted into the possible and poten... more Over the course of several weeks, in 2023, experiments were conducted into the possible and potential manufacturing techniques employed in neolithic Vinča figure manufacture, with a specific focus on the Serbo-Kosovan variants found in southern Serbia and Kosovo. Through experimental archaeology, making practical decisions, and breaking down the manufacturing process into key component parts, such as base, body and head, the aesthetic nature of these figures is highlighted, as well as potentially dictating not just socio-cultural practices, but by the structural necessity inherent in their creation. Through the manufacturing process, a subjective, yet important perspective is gained relating to positioning, and understanding of how these figures from this region can be interpreted with regards to ritual practise, and 'spatial' interactions.
Books by Benjamin Elliott
The Sun, The Seasons, and The Swastika, 2023
Since the second world war, the long accepted view that the Swastika is a symbol of hatred has mo... more Since the second world war, the long accepted view that the Swastika is a symbol of hatred has mostly gone unchallenged. Now, academics and the general public are beginning to question this long held view of history. People today are reaching out, more than ever, to try and understand the nature of human progress, and the pattern of human innovation and creativity in our past. Casting aside the shadow of the 20th century, this pictorial guide charts a course from the Palaeolithic through to the modern age, with the mission of reassessing the Swastika’s depiction, and revaluating it as one of the key symbolic representations of human expression. From northern Canada, to the islands of Japan, follow this amazing symbol and the cultures it’s connected with, by exploring the multifaceted nature and illuminating course of human history and development.
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Papers by Benjamin Elliott
Books by Benjamin Elliott