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Nikolaos Dimakis
Research Student, Faculty of Arts
Contact
- workArchaeology and Classics Building
University Park
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
UK - work0115 951 4820
- acxnd@nottingham.ac.uk
Research Summary
Thesis title: 'Social Identity and Status in the Classical and Hellenistic northern Peloponnese: the evidence from burials'
My study aims to provide an understanding of the north Peloponnesians' social identity and status in the Classical and Hellenistic periods from the perspective of burials. Main purpose is to explicate the major dimensions of identity and status as these are reflected or represented on the Classical and Hellenistic burial landscape of the northern Peloponnese. All questions addressed mediate the relation between burials to their socio-political context shedding light on social diversity and degrees of socio-political ranking. By studying the transformations in the mortuary record of a wide territory over a long period of time varying perceptions about identity and status shall come to the light. This cross-sectional approach shall reveal burial cores, patterns, similarities or differences that may or may not corroborate contemporary political relations and social affiliations suggesting that burial ritual may overcome political boarders. Moreover, it shall form a good initial point to investigate whether the contemporary literary sources have intentionally or unintentionally neglected certain aspects of the Peloponnesians' life, part of which is death. It is anticipated that the thesis will form a framework of interpretation which could be applied more widely in the investigation of Classical and Hellenistic burial contexts. A large assemblage of burials shall be systematically studied providing insight into the interplay of local tradition, foreign influence and internal social, political and economic developments. All in all, the questions addressed are part of a process that will enable us to form a better picture of the Classical and Hellenistic Peloponnese and move forward to a reconstruction, through its burials, of the region's social complexity.
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