Myths on the Edge of Empire: How Classical Mythology Spread throughout Roman Britain
By (author) Steven Paul Turner
Paperback (Published)
(November 2025)
ISBN: 9781805831433
6.85 x 9.69 inches
Price: $63.00
In stock
Myths on the Edge of Empire explores how classical mythology spread across Roman Britain, analyzing key deities, artefacts, and cultural contexts. Through case studies and thematic chapters, it reveals patterns of myth use and transmission at the empire’s edge.
Myths on the Edge of Empire presents the findings of an extensive investigation into how classical mythology spread across Roman Britain, revealing which characters and deities were the most prevalent, in which contexts, and within which physical media. The reader is initially guided through a series of case studies that use individual mythical entities (Minerva, Mars, Medusa, Hercules, Mercury, and Cupid) to introduce key concepts and observations, as well as drawing attention to the pitfalls of the terminology often employed in explaining complex cultural interchanges. Building upon these findings, more complex patterns are then discussed in thematic chapters that focus on military deities, how myths were combined or displayed together, and the extent to which urban environments were fertile ground for their employment, as well as a typological breakdown and discussion of material culture. As a reference, this book presents a series of graphical displays, one per myth, that show quantities of artefacts, locations, find contexts, and prevalence over time. Finally, the book classifies and explains the vectors that were used in the cultural transmission of mythology throughout a province that was at the very edge of the Roman Empire.
Abbreviations
Introduction
Minerva Case Study
Mars Case Study
Medusa Case Study
Hercules Case Study
Mercury Case Study
Cupid Case Study
Martial Mythology
Pantheons
Urban Myths
Myth, Material, Meaning
Routes of Transmission
Conclusion
Appendix 1: Data for Each Myth
Bibliography
,
Abbreviations
Introduction
Minerva Case Study
Mars Case Study
Medusa Case Study
Hercules Case Study
Mercury Case Study
Cupid Case Study
Martial Mythology
Pantheons
Urban Myths
Myth, Material, Meaning
Routes of Transmission
Conclusion
Appendix 1: Data for Each Myth
Bibliography
Steven Paul Turner worked as a history instructor in Tokyo for many years, after which he completed a PhD at Lampeter in archaeology, history, and anthropology. It was that thesis which formed the basis for this book. He previously worked in publishing and the health service in an IT role, and so is interested in research that requires a multidisciplinary approach. He spends his spare time painting miniature historical armies and researching family trees.
- By (author) Steven Paul Turner
‘This book explores an important, new aspect of archaeological interpretation that deals with the description and transmission of mythical romanitas… [The book] is likely to present an important milestone in Romano-British studies that will open a door into nuanced interpretations yet to be explored.’ – Miranda Aldhouse-Green (2026), Current Archaeology
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Other Titles in this Series
Visualising Glocalization
Villas, Architectural Spaces and Pavements in Hispania Baetica (2nd century AD – 4th century AD)
Excavations at Chester. Roman Land Division and a Probable Villa in the Hinterland of Deva
Excavation at Saighton Army Camp, Huntington, Chester
Corpus des amphores romaines produites dans les centres de mer Noire
Collections des musées de la côte turque de la mer Noire (Ereğli, Amasra, Sinop, Samsun, Giresun, Ordu, Trabzon et Amasya)
L’ artisanat dans les cites antiques de l’Algérie
(Ier siècle avant notre ère –VIIe siècle après notre ère)
A Dramatic Event in Late Roman Florence
The Anomalous Burial Site Discovered beneath the Uffizi Gallery
Roman Frontier Archaeology – in Britain and Beyond
Papers in Honour of Paul Bidwell Presented on the Occasion of the 30th Annual Conference of the Arbeia Society
La via Aurelia da Roma a Cosa
Biografia di un sistema di comunicazione tra età romana e primo medioevo
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