My OpenLearn Profile
- Personalise your OpenLearn profile
- Save your favourite content
- Get recognition for your learning
This page was published over five years ago. Please be aware that the information provided on this page may be out of date, or otherwise inaccurate due to the passage of time. For more detail, see our Archive and Deletion Policy.
How was mythology used by ancient Romans in their everyday lives? At Nemi to the south of Rome, the sanctuary of the goddess Diana provides us with a snapshot of Roman life and society. This album explores some of the fragments of objects found at the site of Diana's temple, such as a street entertainer's clay lamp, an ex-slave's votive statue and a miniature model of the Temple itself. Containing significant clues about social mobility, these cult objects reveal how lower social classes used mythical stories to empower themselves.
This material forms part of The Open University course A330 Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds.
- Duration 45 mins
- Updated Tuesday 17th August 2010
- Introductory level
- Posted under History & The Arts
Track 1: Myth in the Greek and Roman Worlds: the Temple of Diana at Nemi
A short introduction to this album.
© The Open University 2010
- Read a transcript of this track - you'll need a PDF viewer, such as Adobe's free Adobe Reader
- Download this track from iTunes U - you'll need Apple's free iTunes software
- See details of the Open University course this album comes from
- Discover more from The Open University and iTunesU at open.edu/itunes
Tracks in this podcast:
| Track | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Myth in the Greek and Roman Worlds: the Temple of Diana at Nemi | A short introduction to this album. Play now Myth in the Greek and Roman Worlds: the Temple of Diana at Nemi |
| 2 | The Temple of Diana at Nemi: temple model | Examining the mysterious miniature terracotta model of temple, found at Nemi. Play now The Temple of Diana at Nemi: temple model |
| 3 | The Temple of Diana at Nemi: anatomical votive | What can we learn about Diana and her worshippers from this statue, found at Nemi? Play now The Temple of Diana at Nemi: anatomical votive |
| 4 | The Temple of Diana at Nemi: Oil lamp | Gleaning clues about the fabric of Roman society from a fragment of an oil lamp. Play now The Temple of Diana at Nemi: Oil lamp |
| 5 | The Temple of Diana at Nemi: Herm | The messages conveyed in a statue donated by an ex-slave. Play now The Temple of Diana at Nemi: Herm |
| 6 | Nemi and myth | Open University academic Valerie Hope explains how objects found at Nemi reveal how mythology played a key role in everyday life. Play now Nemi and myth |
| 7 | Why study myth? | Chris Emlyn-Jones, Valerie Hope and Paula James reveal the enduring importance of myth. Play now Why study myth? |
| 8 | A330: Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds | How story and myth are embedded into the monuments and artefacts of ancient Greece and Rome. Play now A330: Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds |
About the author
Tags, Ratings and Social Bookmarking
Ratings
Other content you may like
free course icon
Level 3 icon
History & The Arts
Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds
What is myth? This module is a broad interdisciplinary study of Greek and Roman myth in its social, historical, literary and visual context. It combines the detailed study of individual works of literature, art and architecture with an exploration of context, function and purpose. As well as studying myth in antiquity, you will also explore the reception of mythical ideas and images in later European culture. The module's digital resources include interactive visual explorations of key ancient and modern sites, monuments and artefacts, together with audio interviews with experts tracing the influence of myth on, for example, drama, science and medicine.
video icon
History & The Arts
Troy Story: Homer's Iliad and Odyssey
Interested in Greek myths? We've condensed the epic narrative of Homer's poems the Iliad and the Odyssey into short animations voiced by the dulcet tones of Don Warrington.
article icon
History & The Arts
Greek Myth in the 'Whoniverse'
In her tribute to the fiftieth anniversary of Doctor Who, Amanda examines how the TV programme has flirted with Greek mythology.
audio icon
History & The Arts
Myth at the heart of the Roman Empire
How and why did ancient Romans use myth to validate their power? Emperor Augustus legitimised his rule by entwining his own ancestry with the mythical stories of Rome's foundation, and created a divine aura around Rome as capital of the vast empire. This album visits key emblems associated with Rome's beginnings: the Forum and the Capitoline Hill with its statue of the she-wolf and Romulus and Remus; the Emperor Augustus's palace and ceremonial altar, and the 17th Century D'Arpino frescos of foundation myths commissioned by Pope Innocent X to underpin his authority. By monumentalising and glorifying their real and legendary past, Romans painted their own history and this continues to encapsulate Roman identity today. This material forms part of The Open University course A330 Myth in the Greek and Roman worlds.
article icon
History & The Arts
Good Churchill, bad Churchill?
Everyone has an opinion on former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill. We take a look at some of the highlights as well as the controversies of his career.
free course icon
Level 3 icon
History & The Arts
Library of Alexandria
One of the most important questions for any student of the ancient world to address is 'how do we know what we know about antiquity?' Whether we're thinking about urban architecture, or love poetry, or modern drama, a wide range of factors shape the picture of antiquity that we have today. This free course, Library of Alexandria, encourages you to reflect upon and critically ------ those factors. Interpreting an ancient text, or a piece of material culture, or understanding an historical event, is never a straightforward process of 'discovery', but is always affected by things such as translation choices, the preservation (or loss) of an archaeological record, or the agendas of scholars.
activity icon
History & The Arts
How women changed the world
Who wrote the first novel over 1000 years ago? Who disguised herself as a man to explore the new world? Take this interactive world tour to discover the stories the history books left out.
article icon
History & The Arts
Early Modern European Lives: Pompeo Diodati
Pompeo Diodati lived in Italy during a time of hostility towards protestants. Learn about his exile and incredible journey to Geneva here.
video icon
History & The Arts
Outside the book
Explore the wonders of the literary world with these five quirky animations.
©1999-2018. All rights reserved. The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302). The Open University is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in relation to its secondary activity of credit broking.
Be the first to post a comment
We invite you to discuss this subject, but remember this is a public forum.
Please be polite, and avoid your passions turning into contempt for others. We may delete posts that are rude or aggressive; or edit posts containing contact details or links to other websites.