Ce travail de recherche constitue une étude globale du portique occidental de Philae, prenant en compte l’ensemble architectural, théologique et cultuel qu’il forme. Une première partie pose le cadre dans lequel se situe le portique, en le replaçant dans son contexte topographique, architectural et historique, et présente les fonctions du monument. La deuxième partie aborde plus en détail le monument en présentant ses particularités architecturales, les malfaçons de sa conception, la singularité de ses fenêtres et la diversité de ses chapiteaux. Ensuite, la chronologie de la décoration est établie, depuis le règne d’Auguste jusqu’à celui de Néron et peut-être au-delà. La troisième partie est consacrée à la translittération, la traduction et le commentaire des textes. Les erreurs de signes et les incompréhensions diverses sont exposées. Puis, vient la synthèse, formée par l’étude de la « grammaire » du temple et le commentaire théologique des textes. Enfin une dernière partie présente les différents témoignages de l’homme sous le portique: inscriptions démotiques, grecques, graffites figuratifs et cupules. Cette documentation apporte des informations sur les travaux du portique, le culte officiel et les pratiques en marge du culte officiel qui se déroulaient dans l’espace du parvis du temple d’Isis. Un volume de 158 planches accompagne le volume de texte. Il comprend la copie de tous les textes du portique, pour la plupart inédits. / This work is a comprehensive study of the western portico of Philae temple, taking into account its architectural features, its theology and its function as a place of worship. The first part gives an overview of the topographical, architectural and historical contexts and presents the function of the monument. The second part details its architectural peculiarities, the misconceptions, the singularity of its windows and the diversity of its capitals. Chronology of the decoration is then established, extending from the reign of Augustus till the reign of Nero or maybe after. The third part is devoted to the transliteration, translation and commentary of the texts. Various miswritings and uncomprehensions of the texts are exposed. The synthesis takes into account the « grammaire du temple » and theological commentary of the texts. The last part is devoted to the portico considered as a place of worship and the marks left by the men who worked and passed by there : demotic and greek inscriptions, carved images, gold covering and small cavities. This documentation gives informative insights on the works of the portico, the official cult and the more « popular » practices which occured in the forecourt of the temple of Isis. A volume of 158 plates is added, containing the copy of all the texts of the portico, which are mainly unpublished.

Many accounts, both ancient and modern, have maintained that the Julio- Claudian women had unprecedented influence in their spheres. This dissertation attempts to determine the degree of autonomy and influence that the Julio-Claudian women had and to examine the factors that may have contributed to their exceptional influence. In trying to establish the extent and nature of the influence of the Julio- Claudian women, the ancient sources (literary, documentary and iconographic), in conjunction with modern scholarly views, were critically examined throughout. In attempting to determine the factors that influenced such weight and autonomy as these women had, the dissertation looks at the influences on women of earlier times, in particular the late Roman Republic, from a legal and a socio-historical angle. Whether the Julio-Claudian women could be considered, for example, to have been part of a “super-elite” in comparison with aristocratic women of earlier, and even later, times, was discussed and evaluated. On the surface the Julio-Claudian women did seem to enjoy a wider range of freedoms, power and influence than their counterparts, or the Roman women before or after them. Yet it is clear from the sources that these women also had restrictions laid upon them and that the patriarchal framework still curtailed their influence. When they over-stepped the accepted bounds, they were invariably vilified by the ancient historians, and often came to be negatively portrayed by subsequent generations. Whether these women truly deserved their vilification, or whether it can simply be ascribed to the bias of the ancient writers, was also explored throughout. / Classics & World Languages / M.A. (Classical Studies)

Many accounts, both ancient and modern, have maintained that the Julio- Claudian women had unprecedented influence in their spheres. This dissertation attempts to determine the degree of autonomy and influence that the Julio-Claudian women had and to examine the factors that may have contributed to their exceptional influence. In trying to establish the extent and nature of the influence of the Julio- Claudian women, the ancient sources (literary, documentary and iconographic), in conjunction with modern scholarly views, were critically examined throughout. In attempting to determine the factors that influenced such weight and autonomy as these women had, the dissertation looks at the influences on women of earlier times, in particular the late Roman Republic, from a legal and a socio-historical angle. Whether the Julio-Claudian women could be considered, for example, to have been part of a “super-elite” in comparison with aristocratic women of earlier, and even later, times, was discussed and evaluated. On the surface the Julio-Claudian women did seem to enjoy a wider range of freedoms, power and influence than their counterparts, or the Roman women before or after them. Yet it is clear from the sources that these women also had restrictions laid upon them and that the patriarchal framework still curtailed their influence. When they over-stepped the accepted bounds, they were invariably vilified by the ancient historians, and often came to be negatively portrayed by subsequent generations. Whether these women truly deserved their vilification, or whether it can simply be ascribed to the bias of the ancient writers, was also explored throughout. / Classics and World Languages / M.A. (Classical Studies)