Gender Numismatics – Fluid Identities & Ancient Coinage

Tübingen University, 29-30 November 2018

Recent archaeological studies have acknowledged that the function and meaning of ancient material culture is both resulting in and generative of habits, values, norms, and behaviours in a given society requiring a new set of interpretative methodologies. To that end, gender studies can become part of the research agenda. In one particular area of ancient, especially GrecoRoman material culture, these research strands have not received the attention they deserve: coinage. Yet, the polyvalence of ancient coins provides an unequalled opportunity to enhance our understanding of the complexity and dynamics of gender roles in the Mediterranean World. As medium of exchange (in embedded and disembedded economies alike), of communication, or of power and authority on practical and symbolic levels they express and forge identities in different ways. The interplay of image, text, and materiality offers an excellent framework within which to study how coins operate between the single person and society at large with all the various transactions this entails. This international workshop seeks to investigate the above mentioned dynamics, whether they are normative or deviant. While the archaeological evidence will take centre stage, we aim more generally at exploring the potential of gendered perspectives as critical tools for analyzing ancient coins. To this purpose, we propose to work with a broad idea of gender including conceptions of age, class, and ethnicity (which can already be gendered as such).

You can view more information and the full draft programme: https://sites.durham.ac.uk/matariki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2018/09/Flyer_Gender_Numismatics.pdf