In 2011 Michel Aberson, Maria Cristina Biella, Massimiliano Di Fazio and Manuela Wullschleger (two Italians and two Swiss, two archaeologists and two historians of antiquity) met in Geneva at the Fondation Hardt pour l'étude de l'Antiquite classique and decided to undertake a challenging project together: to organize three conferences on the peoples of central Italy, taking into consideration the key milestones in their history, from their independence, through their relations with Rome and ending with the (re)construction of their identities within the Roman world.
Underpinning the project, which immediately found the support of many colleagues and institutions, was the idea of bringing historians, archaeologists, linguists and specialists of Latin literature together to collaboratively create a comprehensive picture of these significantly multifaceted and sometimes even conflicting topics.
The present volume is the outcome of the third conference of the series E pluribus unum? Italy from the Pre-Roman fragmentation to the Augustan Unity, held at the University of Oxford in October 2016; it deals with the specific moments of conscious rediscovery of conquered peoples' contribution to Roman culture from the late Republic and during the Empire. These influences can be recognized particularly during the Late Republic and Augustan period, and the final outcome is the formation of a connective tissue, which can be described as the cement of the "unaccomplished identity" of ancient Italy.
The volume investigates the issue from different perspectives in order to avoid the adoption of a Romanocentric perspective.
Michel Aberson a étudié à l’Université de Genève, où il a obtenu un doctorat en Histoire ancienne, et à l’Université de Heidelberg. Ancien membre de l’Institut suisse de Rome, il enseigne l’Histoire ancienne à l’Université de Lausanne et collabore à la rédaction de L’Année épigraphique. Ses recherches portent principalement sur l’épigraphie latine, l’Histoire de l’Italie préimpériale et l’Histoire des Alpes dansl’Antiquité. / Michel Aberson ha studiato presso l’Università di Ginevra, ove ha ottenuto un dottorato di ricerca in Storia antica, e presso l’Università di Heidelberg. Già membro dell’Istituto svizzero di Roma, insegna Storia antica presso l’Università di Losanna e collabora alla redazione dell’Année épigraphique. Le sue ricerche riguardano l’epigrafia latina, la Storia dell’Italia preimperiale e la Storia delle Alpi nell’Antichità. / Michel Aberson studied at the University of Geneva, where he held his PhD in Ancient History, and at the University of Heidelberg. Former Fellow at the Swiss Institute in Rome, he currently teaches Ancient History at the University of Lausanne and collaborates at the redaction of L’Année épigraphique. His expertise covers Latin Epigraphy, History of the pre-imperial Italy and History of the Alps in Antiquity.
Maria Cristina Biella est Research Fellow à la British School at Rome. Elle a étudié aux universités de Milan, de Rome et de Southampton, a bénéficié de bourses de recherche à l’Université de Heidelberg, au Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, à la Fondation Hardt pour l’Étude de l’Antiquité Classique et à l’Istituto Nazionale di Studi Etruschi e Italici. Ses recherches portent principalement sur la période orientalisante en Italie, les Falisques et les Capénates, la cité de Falerii Veteres et les petits bronzes votifs italiques. / Maria Cristina Biella è Research Fellow presso la British School at Rome. Ha studiato presso le Università di Milano, Roma e Southampton, ha ottenuto borse di ricerca all’Università di Heidelberg, al Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, alla Fondation Hardt pour l’Étude de l’Antiquité Classique e all’Istituto Nazionale di Studi Etruschi e Italici. I suoi ambiti di ricerca riguardano principalmente il periodo orientalizzante in Italia, i Falisci e i Capenati, la città di Falerii Veteres e i bronzetti votivi italici. / Maria Cristina Biella is currently a Research Fellow at the British School at Rome. She studied at the Universities of Milano, Roma and Southampton and she held fellowships at the University of Heidelberg, at the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut, at the Fondation Hardt pour l’Étude de l’Antiquité Classique and at the Istituto Nazionale di Studi Etruschi e Italici. Her research interests include Orientalizing pottery productions in central Italy, Faliscan and Capenate cultural enclaves, the city of Falerii Veteres and Italic small votive bronzes.
Massimiliano Di Fazio est actuellement Professore a Contratto di Archeologia dell’Italia preromana à l’Université de Pavie, où il a obtenu la Laurea en Lettres classiques. Il est détenteur de doctorats en Histoire ancienne de l’Université de Rome 'La Sapienza' et de l’Université de Pavie. Il a été Visiting Fellow à l’Université de Newcastle et a bénéficié de bourses de recherche de l’Aylwin Cotton Foundation, de la Fondation Hardt, et d’autres institutions. Ses recherches portent principalement sur l’Histoire sociale et religieuse de l’Italie centrale préromaine, sur la « Romanisation » dans cette même région, sur la mémoire culturelle étrusque et la réminiscence de la culture étrusque à la Renaissance et dans l’Italie moderne. / Massimiliano Di Fazio è attualmente Professore a Contratto di Archeologia dell’Italia preromana presso l’Università di Pavia, dove ha ottenuto la Laurea in Lettere Classiche. Ha conseguito il dottorato di ricerca in Storia antica presso l’Università di Roma 'La Sapienza' e un secondo dottorato presso l’Università di Pavia. È stato Visiting Fellow presso l’Università di Newcastle e ha ottenuto borse di ricerca dalla Aylwin Cotton Foundation, dalla Fondation Hardt e da altre istituzioni. Le sue ricerche riguardano la Storia sociale e religiosa dell’Italia centrale preromana, la 'Romanizzazione' nell’Italia centrale, la memoria culturale etrusca e la reminescenza della cultura etrusca nel Rinascimento e nell’Italia moderna. / Massimiliano Di Fazio is currently Professore a Contratto of Archeologia dell’Italia preromana at the University of Pavia, where he held his Laurea in Lettere Classiche. He obtained a PhD in Ancient History at the University of Rome 'La Sapienza', and a second PhD at the University of Pavia. He was Visiting Fellow at the University of Newcastle, and had Fellowships from the Aylwin Cotton Foundation, Fondation Hardt and other Institutions. Among his fields of interest are the Social and Religious History of Pre-roman Central Italy, the "Romanization" in Central Italy, Etruscan Cultural Memory; the survival of Etruscan Culture in Renaissance and Modern Italy.
Manuela Wullschleger est archéologue. Après des études à l’Université de Pavie (Italie), elle a obtenu sa thèse de doctorat en Archéologie classique auprès de l’Université de Genève. Elle a effectué de nombreux séjours de recherche à Rome en tant que membre de l’Institut Suisse de Rome et a bénéficié de bourses du Fonds National Suisse de la Recherche et d’autres institutions. Ses recherches portent essentiellement sur la céramique étrusque figurée, sur l’iconographie grecque et étrusque, sur l’anthropologie culturelle et sur l’histoire des collections. / Manuela Wullschleger è archeologa. Ha studiato Lettere classiche presso l’Università degli Studi di Pavia laureandosi in Etruscologia e archeologia italica. Ha conseguito il dottorato in Archeologia classica presso l’Université de Genève ed effettuato diversi anni di ricerca a Roma come membro dell’Istituto Svizzero di Roma. Ha beneficiato di borse del Fondo Nazionale Svizzero per la Ricerca e di altre istituzioni. I suoi ambiti di ricerca sono la ceramica etrusca figurata, l’iconografia greca ed etrusca, l’antropologia culturale e la storia delle collezioni. / Manuela Wullschleger is an Archaeologist. She obtained her Laurea in Lettere Classiche at the University of Pavia and a PhD in Classical Archaeology at the University of Geneva. She held Fellowships from the Swiss Institute at Rome for several years. She was the recipient of some Fellowships from the Swiss National Science Foundation and other Institutions. Her research interests cover Etruscan Vase-Painting, Greek and Etruscan Iconography, Cultural Anthropology and History of Collections.
