Mit Wissen geschmückt?

Since the 2nd century BC the contact between Greek and Roman culture can be described as one of mutual exchange. Reception of Greek education and its visual presence in the Roman culture forms one aspect of this complex relationship and is the focus of this publication. Unlike past publications, which centred life-sized marble-sculptures of Greek poets and thinkers, this publication comprehensively analyses examples of the "minor arts" like engraved gems, tableware, oil lamps, appliques on furniture as well as rounded effigies, which are smaller than life-size.
These are evaluated regarding their suitability as a form of expression in perception of Greek education. This publication examines more than 700 depictions of Greek poets and thinkers from Roman everyday life. It therefore combines a material-oriented analysis of the quantitative most significant category of engraved gems with a function-oriented analysis of smaller artworks on the whole.
Methodically the analysis of the material is divided into three steps. Following an explanation of the methodical approach and a historical introduction, the first material-oriented step consists of an iconographic, typological and functional examination of the negraved gems. The publication therefore provides a comprehensive photographic documentation of depictions of Greek poets and thinkers. Subsequently, a contrastive follow up of other manifestations is presented, through which the depictions were visually and functionally embedded into Roman daily routine and could be received in everyday situations. In a third step the material becomes subject to cultural and historical issues based on previous gained understanding. The discussion of the relationship between Greek education and the Roman way of living was heretofore dominated by literary sources. This literary based discussion can be diversified and strengthened for further discourse by considering the culture of Roman everyday life. The various groups of