72 pages, paperback
14,8 x 21,0, 2025
This short text focuses on the Domus del Ninfeo at Ostia as a case study of how built structures can be read as a powerful metaphor for the in/visibility of social classes within Roman society. The structural transformations undergone by the Domus del Ninfeo were more than mere architectural changes; rather, they can be seen as a testament to the evolving practices of class distinction and gaze craftsmanship. The spaces within the house reveal a microcosm of Roman society where social boundaries were both erected and eroded, offering a unique lens through which to investigate the relationship between master and slaves, and provide an example of the subtle yet powerful architectural cues that dictated the lives of its inhabitants.
The Author
Alessandra Batty holds a degree (BA hons) and a postgraduate degree (Specializzazione) in Archaeology from the University “La Sapienza” (Rome), and an MA in Archaeology and a PhD in Art History from the University of Manchester. Her main research interests are Greek and Roman art, the history of archaeological studies and the structural analysis of monuments. She has published a large monograph on the Domus del Ninfeo at Ostia (BAR), and the English edition and translation of Giuseppe Maggi’s book on the history of Herculaneum (Herculaneum. End of an Ancient Town, Kairós edizioni).
