Collegia Centonariorum: The Guilds of Textile Dealers in the Roman West (Columbia Studies in the Classical Tradition)

Based on a thorough examination of the epigraphic, legal, and literary sources on the collegia centonariorum, this volume offers a new understanding of their origins, functions, organizations, and social and legal status in the Roman Empire from the first century BC to fourth century AD. The Collegia Centonariorum Have Often Been Seen As The Municipal Fire Brigades Or Status Groups Of Sorts In The Roman Cities. Through A Close Investigation Of The Chronological Development And Geographical Distribution Of The Collegia Centonariorum, Their Legal Privileges, And The Prosopographical Data Of Members And Patrons, This Volume Reveals A Much More Complex Picture Of Their Origins, Characters And Compositions In Various Regions From The First Century Bc To The Fourth Century Ad.--jacket. I. Mapping The Collegia Centonariorum -- Ii. Centonarii And The Roman Textile Economy -- Iii. Collegia, Law, And Utilitas Publica -- Iv. Collegia Centonariorum And Fire-fighting? -- V. Membership Composition -- Vi. Patrons And Benefactors -- Vii. Feasts, Religion And Burials -- Viii. Fourth Century : Continuity And Change -- App. A. Catalogue Of Inscriptions About The Collegia Centonariorum -- App. B. Geographical Distribution Of The Most Widely Attested Types Of Collegia -- App. C. Uncertain Inscriptions About The Collegia Centonariorum -- App. D. Ancient References To Cento/centunculum -- App. E. Catalogue Of Members Of The Collegia Centonariorum -- App. F. Catalogue Of Multiple Patronage (first-third Centuries). By Jinyu Liu. Originally Presented As The Author's Thesis (doctoral)--columbia University, 2004. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. The collegia centonariorum were often seen as the municipal fire-brigades or status groups of sorts in the Roman cities. Through a close investigation of the chronological development and geographical distribution of the collegia centonariorum, their legal privileges, and the prosopographical data of members and patrons, this volume reveals a much more complex picture of their origins, characters and compositions in various regions from the first century BC to the fourth century AD. Intricately connected with the textile economy, the collegia centonariorum illustrate how elements as diverse as material demand from the military and the city of Rome, legal infrastructure, urban development, and organizations of urban-based craftsmen and tradesmen may have interfaced with each other in the Roman world. "The collegia centonariorum have often been seen as the municipal fire brigades or status groups of sorts in the Roman cities. Through a close investigation of the chronological development and geographical distribution of the collegia centonariorum, their legal privileges, and the prosopographical data of members and patrons, this volume reveals a much more complex picture of their origins, characters and compositions in various regions from the first century BC to the fourth century AD."--Jaquette