The project has addressed the role of vehicles as means for elite self-representation and the visualisation of social hierarchies in the later Roman empire (4th-6th century), providing accessible knowledge of a characteristic phenomenon of late antique society and demonstrating its importance for identity construction in a key period of European history. As Roman society became increasingly hierarchical, a corresponding need was felt for its structure to be conveyed visually: every citizen was bound to exhibit the distinguishing features of his or her rank, in a way that could be immediately clear to every viewer. Among the signs of social and economic power, vehicles were certainly the most impressive. They were the principal means for elite self-representation and the display of private wealth in the public places of Roman cities.
Vehicles have been chosen as a specific focus to shed new light on several aspects of the social and cultural history of the period, examining various specific contexts in which they played a key role. These include: the evolution of pagan theology and rituals; the establishment of a bureaucratic structure for central and territorial administration; the construction of gender identity among the late Roman elites; the competing modes of elite self-representation (senatorial, military, ecclesiastical) in the public sphere; the establishment of the Christian Church as a new centre of power alongside and competing with the traditional ones; the survival of Roman institutions and the appropriation of the inheritance of Rome in the transition from antiquity to the middle ages.
The project results provide an important contribution towards a better understanding of a period of momentous changes in social, cultural, political and religious attitudes. The analysis has shown how late antique Romans were able to conceptualise and domesticate transformations (including political turmoil and religious changes) by always maintaining a powerful connection with the past. Public ceremonies functioned as identity markers, fostering the construction of collective identities and reinforcing the sense of community; but they were also a privileged field for staging the often problematic dialogue between competing political, economic, military and spiritual powers. From this point of view, the project has resulted in a comprehensive investigation on the social and cultural history of late antiquity, increasing our understanding of status and gender relationships, cultural and institutional values, and the mechanisms of social mobility and competition. While these social and cultural dynamics are an essential part of the functioning of human societies in general, their study is especially important for our contemporary European culture: our rules of societal life are still (more or less consciously) dependent on ethical, juridical, and cultural principles derived from the Roman period. Understanding past reactions to challenges similar to those which affect our modern societies (from increasing inequality to the integration of foreigners, from the fulfilment of spiritual aspirations to the place of religious affiliation in public life) can bring important contributions to contemporary citizens’ awareness and policy planning.
