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05/21/2026 13:54

Prestige and Promotion in the Roman Provinces

Dr. Anke Sauter Public Relations und Kommunikation
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main

    International Colloquium at Goethe University Frankfurt Explores Social Mobility in the Roman Empire – Evening Lecture by Henner von Hesberg

    Once the Romans took control of conquered territories, everyday life for local populations changed significantly. Alongside new settlement patterns and the introduction of new goods and cultural influences, social structures also shifted, creating new opportunities for social advancement for some individuals. As part of the public evening lecture “Social Mobility – Insights from Archaeological Evidence in the Western Roman Empire,” taking place

    on Monday, June 1, at 7 p.m.
    at the Frankfurt Archaeological Museum
    Karmelitergasse 1, 60311 Frankfurt,

    classical archaeologist Henner von Hesberg will discuss how processes of social advancement are reflected in surviving monuments. Hesberg served for many years as Director of the German Archaeological Institute Rome.

    As Roman rule expanded, established elites were forced to reposition themselves while new elites emerged. The granting of citizenship and growing economic networks also opened up opportunities for upward mobility among lower social groups, including through military service. New Mediterranean media – images, writing, and architecture – created additional ways of displaying social status, particularly in the northern provinces. These developments are especially visible in funerary and dedicatory monuments, but also in domestic interiors.

    The topic is at the center of the international conference “Social Mobility,” where von Hesberg will deliver the keynote lecture. Organized by Goethe University’s Institute for Archaeological Sciences and taking place from June 1 to June 7, the conference marks the 19th Colloquium on Roman Provincial Art. The series focuses on stone monuments from the Roman provinces and ranks among the field’s leading international academic events. Cooperation partners include the Frankfurt Archaeological Museum, the Romano-Germanic Commission of the German Archaeological Institute, the Leibniz Centre for Archaeology in Mainz, and the Saalburg Roman Fort.


    Registration (requested): Crpa2026@em.uni-frankfurt.de

    Media representatives are warmly invited to attend the entire conference. We kindly ask you to register at Crpa2026@em.uni-frankfurt.de


    Contact for scientific information:

    Prof. Dr. Anja Klöckner
    Professor of Classical Archaeology
    kloeckner@em.uni-frankfurt.de
    Tel.: +49 (69) 798-32300


    More information:

    https://www.fb09.uni-frankfurt.de/176370316/CRPA_XIX


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    Criteria of this press release:
    Journalists, all interested persons
    Art / design, Cultural sciences, History / archaeology, Social studies
    transregional, national
    Scientific conferences, Transfer of Science or Research
    English


     

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