BIO

My name is Nina Perdomo, and I am a 4th year senior at FSU double majoring in Classical Archaeology and Italian with two minors in Anthropology and English. I was born in Lima, Peru but was raised in Miami, Florida and I am incredibly proud of my Hispanic heritage. After graduating in April, I will be attending the George Washington University for graduate school to receive a M.A. in Museum Studies. Education aside, a few of my hobbies include playing guitar and collecting houseplants!

Iconography of the Battle of Actium: Understanding Augustan Propaganda through Images in the Ancient and Modern Worlds

Abstract

What do primary sources with iconography such as coins, reliefs, and monuments, referencing the Battle of Actium, reveal about the time period from the Triumvirate to the early Principate (44 BCE - 27 BCE)? How do we use iconography from the Battle of Actium in primary sources to better understand Augustan propaganda today? Although there is much existing scholarship regarding the Battle of Actium through an art historical perspective, there is significantly less research on the impact of iconography referencing the battle from an archaeological perspective. By researching material culture and exhibition displays, this study will provide insight as to how iconography of the Battle of Actium influenced ancient people, and how these messages according to the Roman perception should be interpreted in the modern world. Through understanding iconography referencing the Battle of Actium, scholars can better comprehend why certain symbols were used, how ancient people interacted with these symbols, and how modern viewers should interpret their impacts today. Material culture can be displayed in various ways and convey different meanings depending on placement and descriptions in an exhibit. Museums and their exhibits can mold people’s understandings of iconography; therefore, it is also important to note how modern spaces portray the iconography from the Battle of Actium and analyze modern interpretations of the symbols.

Keywords: Classics, Archaeology, Museums, Exhibition