Household Violence in Greco-Roman Egypt

Description

Drawing on papyrological evidence (especially legal petitions), this volume illuminates the social, spatial, temporal, and material realities of household violence in Greco-Roman Egypt from the fourth century BC to the fourth century AD, and beyond, exploring how men and women experienced and narrated acts of aggression. Across six chapters, it examines the forms of violence—physical aggression (bia), verbal abuse (loidoria), and hubris (hybris), which combines both of the former with emotional and shaming effects. The book explores triggers such as familial disputes, inheritance conflicts, drunkenness, and theft and analyses the relationships between perpetrators and victims, including family, neighbours, officials, and strangers. Spatial contexts are linked to architectural features of the house, while temporal patterns reveal peaks in evening and nighttime incidents. The study also considers the weapons and tools used in domestic assaults, offering insights into methods and intensity.