Public libraries and public benefaction in the Roman Empire

This dissertation examines the use of Roman libraries as public benefactions during the principate. It argues that while euergetism typically involved an exchange of amenities from wealthy donors for approval from the non-elite citizens of a community, libraries were a form of munificence aimed entirely by elites at other elites. The non-elite citizens of the Roman Empire were almost entirely illiterate, and public libraries therefore offered them nothing of interest. Despite this, benefactors nonetheless saw value in donating libraries to their communities, because they offered the donors opportunities to display their apex status within elite society, and enabled forms of commemoration that no other type of euergetism could.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

ma

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

masters

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2023

Author dc:creator

• Miller, Christopher M.

• DE Rhanbarth Môr y Canoldir. Y Byd Groeg-Rufeinig
• Z719 Llyfrgelloedd (Cyffredinol)

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:2680