IPAMAA's Alexandra Creola successfully defended her dissertation "Roman Nymphs and the Underworld: Place, Landscape, and Religion in Roman Italy" on Mon, Mar 13.
Alexandra's dissertation "explores how ancient Romans perceived the mythological landscape of the Underworld as part of their physical reality. This study focuses on figures known as ‘nymphs,’ semi-divine women who embodied topographical features, such as springs, lakes, and marshes. Historically, scholars have only viewed nymphs as part of a Greek tradition, and thus there has not been an in-depth study of Roman nymphs as their own category of divine beings. Her dissertation explores the chthonic aspect of nymphs and the landscape features they represented in Roman Italy between the 4th century BCE and the 4th century CE. Using material, epigraphic, and literary evidence, her work considers cult practices involving nymphs and the Underworld from an Italian perspective with an emphasis on indigenous, sacred places. "
Our warmest congratulations, Alexandra!
