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Syracuse University

Receiving A Queen: A Queer and Trans Feminist Classical Reception Rhetorical Historiography of Elagabalus

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This dissertation studies representations of Elagabalus, the sovereign of Rome who ruled between 218–222ce, after her assassination to examine how depictions and historical accounts of Elagabalus's life make rhetorical decisions about Elagabalus's identity and being that can foreground the composer's relationship to history and the function of history as a rhetorical force. Thus, this project, through studying Elagabalus's composers, raises questions about the nature of figure studies and history. The project draws on trans, queer, and feminist theories and rhetorics which help highlight the contingent and conflicting nature of Elagabalus's identities across representations without settling them into a singular narrative of being allowing for multiple queer potentialities to emerge. Thus, while firmly rooted in rhetoric and rhetorical theory and deeply invested in history contributing and shaping the available means, this project is conversant with classics, women and gender studies, LGBT studies, and history, among other disciplines. The methodology of the project reflects this interdisciplinary approach, braiding together classical reception studies, circulation studies, and queer, trans, and feminist historiographical methods together to engage this scholarly conversation.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Writing Program
Year
2022

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Passwater, Thomas William
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Agnew, Lois

Subjects

dc:subject × 15

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://surface.syr.edu/etd/1496
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:surface.syr.edu:etd-2497

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Syracuse University
Base URL
surface.syr.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Passwater, Thomas William. Receiving A Queen: A Queer and Trans Feminist Classical Reception Rhetorical Historiography of Elagabalus. Dissertation thesis, 2022. https://surface.syr.edu/etd/1496