Gardens of the Roman Empire. 2018. 279 (135 col.)figs. 5 tabs. 2 maps. <XXXVI, 617 p. 4to. Hardcover.

In Gardens of the Roman Empire, the pioneering archaeologist Wilhelmina F. Jashemski sets out to examine the role of ancient Roman gardens in daily life throughout the empire. This study, therefore, includes for the first time, archaeological, literary, and artistic evidence about ancient Roman gardens across the entire Roman Empire from Britain to Arabia. Through well-illustrated essays by leading scholars in the field, various types of gardens are examined, from how Romans actually created their gardens to the experience of gardens as revealed in literature and art. Demonstrating the central role and value of gardens in Roman civilization, Jashemski and a distinguished, international team of contributors have created a landmark reference work that will serve as the foundation for future scholarship on this topic. Essays provide clear, in depth study of gardens from a variety of perspectives, offering key readings for seminars and research papers . Offers a balance of jargon-free prose with the introduction of critical ancient terms, allowing readers to understand both the culture of Roman gardens and the key words used to describe them. Volume 1, of Essays, is paired with a digital volume of maps and catalogue entries, making this volume useful to reference maps, access additional illustrations, and gain more information on the sites mentioned. Volume 2, the digital catalogue, will be interactive, using a simple mapping and database, allowing readers to conduct simple spatial analyses, as well as explore maps, illustrations, and catalogue entries. Contents: Introduction Wilhelmina F. Jashemski, Kathryn L. Gleason, Kim J. Hartswick, and Amina-Aïcha Malek/ PART I. The Main Types of Gardens: 1. The garden in the domus Eric Morvillez/ 2. The Roman villa garden: actuality, ideology, and memory Kim J. Hartswick/ 3. The archaeology of gardens in the Roman villa: gardens of allusion and production Elizabeth Macaulay-Lewis/ 4. Produce gardens: kitchen gardens, vineyards, orchards, and commercial flower gardens Wilhelmina F. Jashemski/ 5. Templegardens and sacred groves Maureen Carroll/ 6. Gardens in baths and palaestras Janet DeLaine/ 7. Gardens in gymnasia, schools, and scholae Maureen Carroll/ 8. Roman tomb gardens John Bodel/ PART II: The Experience of Gardens as Revealed by Literature andArt: 9. Greek literary evidence for Roman gardens and those oflate antiquity Antony R. Littlewood/ 10. Representations of gardens in Roman literature K. Sara Myers/ 11. Frescoes in Roman gardens: painted worlds Bettina Bergmann/ 12. Mosaics and nature in the Roman domus: cultural allusions Amina-Aïcha Malek/ 13. Sculpture in ancient Roman gardens Kim J. Hartswick/ PART III: Making the Garden: 14. Constructing the ancient Roman garden Kathryn L. Gleason and Michele A. Palmer/ 15. Water and water technology in Roman gardens Gemma Jansen/ 16. Gardening practices and techniques Wilhelmina F. Jashemski/ 17. Plants of the Roman garden Wilhelmina F. Jashemski, Kathryn L. Gleason and Michael Herchenbach/ 18. Conclusions: new perspectives on the Roman garden and its archaeology Kathryn L. Gleason, Kim J. Hartswick, Amina-Aïcha Malek and Michele A. Palmer.