Comparing Roman Hellenisms

Hellenism, defined as the "adoption or limitation of (elements of) the ancient Greek language, culture, philosophy, etc." (OED) is central to Roman civilization throughout long periods of its history.  Yet the matter of what scholars do when they compare different types of Roman Hellenism, and the practical and conceptual issues that such acts of comparison presuppose and raise, have never received a focused study of their own.  These pertain to processes of acculturation at Rome, how the Romans' created meaning and identity, the ways in which various art forms expressed cultural values, and the other central aspects of Roman society.  Ranging across archaeology, history, the visual arts, and literature, and treating a broad temporal period from early Rome to late antiquity, this conference seeks to redress this important deficiency in our knowledge.