[publicclassics] Journal of Ancient Civilizations (JAC) 40/1 (2025)

[Prof. Dr. Sven Günther]

Journal of Ancient Civilizations (JAC) 40/1, 2025
ContentsTHAVAPALAN, SHIYANTHI: Red, White and Black: Methodologies for Understanding Color Symbolism in Mesopotamian Magic and Ritual (1-23)JORDOVIĆ, IVAN: Erōs in Xenophon’s Political and Ethical Thought (25-76)KATÓ, PÉTER: Traveling to Zeus on the Island of Kos: Observations on a Decree of the Association of Zeus Hyetios (2nd Century BC) (77-88)DE CALLATAŸ, FRANÇOIS: A Brief Overview of the Diverse Contributions of Ancient Coins to Writing Greco-Roman History from the 16th to the 21st Century (89-104)FORUM: HOW ROMAN PRIVATE LAW GOES NEW WAYSGÜNTHER, SVEN: Review of Babusiaux, Ulrike, Baldus, Christian, Ernst, Wolfgang, Meissel, Franz-Stefan, Platschek, Johannes and Rüfner, Thomas (eds.). 2023. Handbuch des Römischen Privatrechts. 3 vols. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck (105-112)
AbstractsShiyanthi THAVAPALAN (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)RED, WHITE AND BLACK: METHODOLOGIES FOR UNDER-STANDING COLOR SYMBOLISM IN MESOPOTAMIAN MAGICAND RITUAL (pp. 1–23)doi: 10.16758/j.cnki.1004-9371.2025.02.014
The color cluster red, black and white occurs in the artistic, ritual and magical activities of virtually all cultures around the world, suggesting their preeminence in human symbolic thought. Among the various explanations that have been brought forth to account for the special status of these three colors are: 1) evo-lutionary/ecological arguments, drawing support from vision science, perceptual philosophy and primate biology; 2) cognitive arguments, which pay attention to how human beings categorize and create meaning out of perceptual experiences; 3) linguistic arguments, as these are the earliest lexicalized color words in most languages; 4) and diverse socio-cultural arguments. This paper will explore the manifestation of red, black and white – both in concrete terms, through the use and manipulation of materials, as well as abstract ideas – in Assyrian and Babylonian magical and ritual activities. It will highlight how meaning is created and communicated by relating colors to natural and supernatural phenomena and will further attempt to provide a methodological framework for the analysis of color symbolism.
Keywords: Akkadian color terminology – color symbolism – Mesopotamian magic and ritual – materiality – semiotics – solid metaphors

Ivan JORDOVIĆ (University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Philosophy, History Department)ERŌS IN XENOPHON’S POLITICAL AND ETHICAL THOUGHT (pp. 25–76)doi: 10.16758/j.cnki.1004-9371.2025.02.015
This article attempts to trace the status and many manifestations of erōs in Xenophon’s ethical and political thought. It examines its meaning in the narrow sense of “love and desire” and the broad sense of “affective feelings and friendship in the life of the family and the polis.” The principal goal is to demonstrate the remarkable coherence of Xenophon’s concept of erōs despite the diversity of the types of manifestation and visible differences in framing between male-male and male-female relationships. In addition, it will be shown that the principle of self-mastery as a vital criterion for the evaluation of sexual conduct is subordinated to what Xenophon perceives as the primary purpose of sexual intercourse: the procreation of progeny.
Keywords: erōs – akrasia – paiderastia – friendship – marriage – adultery – fatal love – courtesans

Péter KATÓ (Eötvös Loránd University Budapest)TRAVELING TO ZEUS ON THE ISLAND OF KOS: OBSERVATIONS ON A DECREE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ZEUS HYETIOS (2ND CENTURY BC) (pp. 77–88)doi: 10.16758/j.cnki.1004-9371.2025.02.016
This article examines an early 2nd century BC decree of an association worshipping Zeus Hyetios, “the provider of rain,” in the Koan deme of Antimacheia. Focusing on the prosopographical information of the five individuals mentioned in the decree, this article contextualizes the association’s activities within the broader framework of Hellenistic Kos, highlighting issues such as landownership, migration, and social structures, whilst exploring the association’s agricultural focus, its integration with local deme structures, and its strategies for managing the challenges of absentee landownership. This study also argues that the unusual name of the association reflects the frequent absence of its members from the central cult place, who therefore needed to travel a considerable distance in order to attend the cult’s rituals in Antimacheia. This case underscores the interplay between religious, social, and economic dynamics in rural communities.
Keywords: Kos – religion – Zeus – cult – associations – landownership – prosopography

François de CALLATAŸ (Royal Library of Belgium)A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE DIVERSE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ANCIENT COINS TO WRITING GRECO-ROMAN HISTORY FROM THE 16TH TO THE 21ST CENTURY (pp. 89–104)doi: 10.16758/j.cnki.1004-9371.2025.02.017
This concise paper, delivered at a conference, addresses a broad topic with the goal of providing a condensed and inevitably subjective perspective. Initially, it outlines the primary characteristics that distinguish coins from other historical sources. Subsequently, it provides a succinct overview of numismatics, categorized into seven phases: 1. Pre-1550 (coins as reflections of vice and virtue); 2. From circa 1550 to circa 1620 (coins as testimony of authentic history); 3. From circa 1650 to circa 1730 (the heyday of the “Republic of Medals”); 4. From circa 1730 to circa 1840 (the decline of the “Republic of Medals” and the emergence of scientific practices by Viennese Jesuits); 5. From circa 1840 to circa 1940 (die-studies and art history); 6. From circa 1940 to circa 2000 (coins as instruments of exchange); 7. Since 2000 (cultural shift and digital humanities).
Keywords: ancient history – Greco-Roman numismatics – historiography – reception of classical studies – Altertumswissenschaft – digital humanities 

FORUM: HOW ROMAN PRIVATE LAW GOES NEW WAYSThe review of the Handbook of Roman Private Law from the perspective of an ancient historian identifies and discusses new approaches to study Roman private law in the 21st century. 
Sven Günther: Review of Babusiaux, Ulrike, Baldus, Christian, Ernst, Wolfgang, Meissel, Franz-Stefan, Platschek, Johannes and Rüfner, Thomas (eds.). 2023. Handbuch des Römischen Privatrechts. 3 vols. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck; XCVI, 3,670 pages; ISBN: 978-3-16-152359-5 (print), 978-3-16-160139-2 (ebook); € 629.00. (pp. 105–112)doi: 10.16758/j.cnki.1004-9371.2025.02.018

Prof. Dr. phil. Sven Günther, M.A. Vice-director of the Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC)Executive editor-in-chief of the Journal of Ancient Civilizations (JAC)IHAC- and JAC-homepage: http://ihac.nenu.edu.cn/Co-Editor of the Marburger Beiträge zur Antiken Handels-, Wirtschafts- und Sozialgeschichte (MBAH)  Institute for the History of Ancient Civilizations (IHAC) Northeast Normal University5268 Renmin Street130024 ChangchunJilin ProvincePeople's Republic of China   phone: +49-160-96828782Email: sveneca at aol.com / svenguenther at nenu.edu.cnHomepage: https://nenu-cn.academia.edu/SvenGünther
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