Gladiatrix: Fighting Women of the Arena

Female gladiators were prized for exoticism, eroticism, and novelty by emperors Nero, Domitian, Titus. These athletes symbolized decadence, moral laxity, and the trampling of social norms for historians Suetonius, Tacitus, and Cassius Dio. The physicality, weaponry, armor, and clothing of female gladiators are vividly satirized by Martial, Juvenal, and Statius. These authors and emperors shared a fascination for these subversive women, who dared to perform in public, take on male combat roles, wield weapons, hunt wild animals, don costume outside of traditional gender and class boundaries. This study offers an overview of textual and archeological evidence for female gladiators. The limited scholarship on the topic focuses on funerary excavation, due to evidentiary constraints. This paper reassesses the textual presence of female gladiators with close attention to contextualized gendered terms and sex and class based norms Roman authors used as signifiers to reinforce authorial opinions of public and personal morality.

Considering Female Space in a Middle Byzantine (11th c. CE) Burial Site at Syedra, Türkiye

Syedra, in southern Türkiye rose to regional prominence in the Roman imperial age (2nd-4th c. CE) due to its strategic military and economic position in the eastern Mediterranean. After the “fall” of the Western Roman Empire, eastern provinces (and communities therein) were eventually consolidated into the Byzantine Empire. Nevertheless, many cities like Syedra maintained or enhanced their standing through this imperial transition. Atop Asar Tepe, 400 meters above sea level, the occupation of Byzantine Syedra is visible in multiple churches, a baptistry, and burial grounds within the city. While three distinct burial locations have been identified, east, and west of the Büyük Kilise (Big Church), this study focuses on individuals buried just east of the church, outside the apse. Notably, we discuss the overrepresentation of female children and adults in this space and a double burial with two adult females within the context of Byzantine expectations, perceptions, and experiences.

N/A, co-author with Kathryn E. Marklein

N/A, see Marklein abstract

A Terror on History: Investigating the Lessons Learned from Daesh’s Destruction of Cultural Heritage

The rise of Daesh in 2015 led to mass displacement and the destruction of cultural heritage, as the group controlled over 4,600 archaeological sites. Their reasons for destruction varied, from ideological motives to financial gain. This study examines Daesh’s ideology and its impact on cultural heritage while proposing strategies to protect sites from future threats. Using five case studies, we recommend methods for monitoring inaccessible sites and post-destruction recovery. Our approach emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, governmental partnerships, and engagement with local communities. By fostering global cooperation, these strategies aim to preserve cultural heritage, restore local dignity, and provide economic opportunities in conflict-affected regions.