Book accompanying the exhibition

SOCIETY AND IDENTITY

Published by Siebo Heinken
Romy Heyner
Jennifer Morscheiser
Stefan Reuter

Graphic design: Andreas Blum

HIRMER VERLAG

The Roman Empire was a world power that connected continents and shaped cultures. But who were the people behind the monuments, coins, and myths? The companion book to the exhibition “RÖMER – Faces of a World Empire” opens up a vivid panorama of the Roman Empire – based on research and close to the people. Leading experts shed light on topics such as trade, religion, the military, everyday life, migration, and identity, showing how diverse and interconnected the Roman world was. Particularly impressive are the “personae” – predominantly fictional but historically authentic characters who recount personal stories of life in the empire: from midwives to olive oil merchants to animal fighters. Their stories bring history to life. The book invites us to rethink questions of belonging, power, and cultural identity. Rome appears in it as a mirror of our own time – familiar and foreign at the same time, myth and reality, example and warning.