This dissertation examines the relationship between art and power in the reign of Catherine II of Russia (1762-1796). It considers Catherine's state portraits as historical texts that revealed symbolic manifestations of autocratic power, underscoring the close relationship between aesthetics and politics during the reign of Russia's longest serving female ruler. The Russian empress actively exploited the portrait medium in order to transcend the limitations of her gender, assert legitimacy and display herself as an exemplar of absolute monarchy. The resulting symbolic representation was protean and adaptive, and it provided Catherine with a means to negotiate the anomaly of female rule and the ambiguity of her Petrine inheritance. In the reign of Catherine the Great, the state portraits functioned as an alternate form of political discourse.

Empress Livia – Murderer or wrongfully accused? An overview of the ancient sources on the empress Livia and what that suggests that shemurdered her husband Emperor Augustus and his adoptive children to make way for herown son Tiberius as the emperor of Rome.This work will analyze the ancient roman sources by the great historians from that time;Tacitus, Suetonius and Cassius Dio, and their works discussing the murder conspiracy of theempress of Rome; Livia.Here I examine what these ancient sources tell about the possible involvement of Livia, on thedeath of Augustus himself and his adoptive sons. Each author to these ancient sources will beexamined and contextualized according to their contemporary time, but also their political andideological views of women in high position and Ceasarism itself. Their characteristics andstyles of their written account will also be examined.The following issues will be dealt with in this work:  What does the ancient sources of; Tacitus, Suetonius and Cassius Dio say about theconspiracy theory in which empress Livia is central.  What is known about the authors of these ancient sources and to what extant mighttheir political and ideological view affect their written account?  Can the allegations directed at Livia be the result of the fact that she was a highlyinfluential woman at her time, something which the ancient authors by romanstandards saw as unfit for a woman, and therefore is mistreated in the written sources?  If so, were all women with power under the same time and circumstances criticized inthe same way in which Livia is portrayed?  Are there any other aspects that have not been treated equally in the past by authorsand researchers, in which new questionable guidelines can be made? As is very important to point out, this work and essentially all others alike will not evenassume to solve the final question if empress Livias was guilty or not of murdering herhusband, Emperor Augustus and/or his adoptive sons. This work is to be foremost accepted asan appendix of other works regarding the same issue.

<p>Empress Livia – Murderer or wrongfully accused?</p><p>An overview of the ancient sources on the empress Livia and what that suggests that shemurdered her husband Emperor Augustus and his adoptive children to make way for herown son Tiberius as the emperor of Rome.This work will analyze the ancient roman sources by the great historians from that time;Tacitus, Suetonius and Cassius Dio, and their works discussing the murder conspiracy of theempress of Rome; Livia.Here I examine what these ancient sources tell about the possible involvement of Livia, on thedeath of Augustus himself and his adoptive sons. Each author to these ancient sources will beexamined and contextualized according to their contemporary time, but also their political andideological views of women in high position and Ceasarism itself. Their characteristics andstyles of their written account will also be examined.The following issues will be dealt with in this work:</p><p> What does the ancient sources of; Tacitus, Suetonius and Cassius Dio say about theconspiracy theory in which empress Livia is central.</p><p> What is known about the authors of these ancient sources and to what extant mighttheir political and ideological view affect their written account?</p><p> Can the allegations directed at Livia be the result of the fact that she was a highlyinfluential woman at her time, something which the ancient authors by romanstandards saw as unfit for a woman, and therefore is mistreated in the written sources?</p><p> If so, were all women with power under the same time and circumstances criticized inthe same way in which Livia is portrayed?</p><p> Are there any other aspects that have not been treated equally in the past by authorsand researchers, in which new questionable guidelines can be made?</p><p>As is very important to point out, this work and essentially all others alike will not evenassume to solve the final question if empress Livias was guilty or not of murdering herhusband, Emperor Augustus and/or his adoptive sons. This work is to be foremost accepted asan appendix of other works regarding the same issue.</p>

No description available.

Objetivo: comparar a qualidade do ajuste interno de três tipos de infra-estruturas cerâmicas e um tipo de infra-estrutura metálica, sistemas universalmente usados na confecção de coroas totais. Métodos: A partir de um preparo mestre de coroa total, 40 troquéis de gesso tipo IV foram obtidos e distribuídos randomicamente em quatro grupos (n = 10) a saber: Grupo In-Ceram, Grupo Procera, Grupo Empress 2 e Grupo Metal.. Após sua confecção, cada infra-estrutura foi cimentada individualmente sobre o troquél mestre, usando silicone de adição de ultra-baixa viscosidade para preencher o espaço entre a infra-estrutura e o preparo. Após a remoção das coroas, cada réplica foi pesada em balança de precisão e logo separadas nas porções correspondentes à interface parede cervical e interface parede ocluso-axial, sendo então pesadas separadamente, para posterior obtenção de seu volume. Resultados: Interface paredes do preparo/paredes da infra-estrutura: Neste computo geral, houve diferença estatística significativa (P < 0,0001) entre os grupos estudados. As principais diferenças quantitativas no volume da interface ocorreram entre o Grupo In-Ceram e os demais grupos. Interface paredes ocluso-axial do preparo/paredes ocluso-axial da infra-estrutura: Repete-se aqui, diferença estatística significativa entre os grupos estudados (P < 0,0001). Mantêm-se as principais diferenças quantitativas no volume da interface em relação ao Grupo In-Ceram. Interface parede cervical do preparo/parede cervical da infra-estrutura: Não houve diferença estatística significativa (P > 0,5) no volume da interface cervical entre os Grupos Metal (menor média) e In-Ceram, com este apresentando pequeno aumento no volume desta interface, comparado ao primeiro. Em relação ao Grupo Metal, o volume da interface cervical foi maior no Grupo Empress 2, seguido do Grupo Procera, ambos mostrando diferença estatística significativa no confronto com o Grupo Metal (P < 0,001 e P < 0,01 respectivamente). Não houve diferença estatística significativa (P > 0,05) entre os Grupos Procera e Empress 2. Conclusões: Exceto em relação à interface cervical, o Grupo In-Ceram mostou os melhores resultados, seguido do Grupo Metal, para o ajuste interno. Os Grupos Metal e In-Ceram apresentaram os melhores desempenhos no ajuste interno, para a interface cervical. Os resultados sugerem estas infra-estruturas como as mais confiáveis quanto ao ajuste interno dentre as testadas neste trabalho. / Objective: Compare the quality of the internal fit of three kinds of ceramic infrastructures and one kind of metal infrastructure, universally used systems for total crown moulding. Methods: Starting from the preparation of a total crown master, 40 dies made of gypsum plaster, kind IV, were obtained and distributed at random in four groups (n = 10) that is: In-Ceram group, Procera group, Empress 2 group and Metal group.. After moulding, each infrastructure was individually cemented on the master die, ultra-low viscosity silicon adhesive was used to fill in the space between the infrastructure and the preparation area. After crown removal each replicate was weighed on a precision scale and was then separated in parts corresponding to the cervical wall interface and the occluso-axial wall interface; they were then weighed separately to get their volume. Results: Walls interface of infrastructure preparation/walls: Within this general estimate a statistically significant difference (P < 0,0001) was found between the studied groups. The main quantitative differences on the interface volume occurred between the In-Ceram group and the other groups. Occluso-axial walls interface of the infrastructure occlusal-axial preparation/walls: Here again, a statistically significant difference between the studied groups (P < 0,0001) is present. Main quantitative differences on the interface volume remain in relation to the In-Ceram group. Cervical wall interface of the infrastructure cervical preparation/wall: No statistically significant difference was found (P > 0,5) on the cervical interface volume between the Metal groups (least average) and In-Ceram, the latter presenting a slight increase on the volume of this interface, when compared to the first one. In relation to the Metal group, the cervical interface volume was greater in the Empress 2 group, followed by the Procera group, both showing a statistically significant difference when compared to the Metal group (P < 0,001 e P < 0,01 respectively). No statistically significant difference (P > 0,05) was found between the Procera and Empress 2 groups. Conclusions: Except for the relation of the cervical interface, the In-Ceram group showed the best results, followed by the Metal group, for internal fit. The Metal and In-Ceram groups presented the best performance in the internal fit, for the cervical interface. The results obtained suggest that these infrastructures are the most reliable ones regarding the internal fit considering the ones tested in this work.

Objetivo: comparar a qualidade do ajuste interno de três tipos de infra-estruturas cerâmicas e um tipo de infra-estrutura metálica, sistemas universalmente usados na confecção de coroas totais. Métodos: A partir de um preparo mestre de coroa total, 40 troquéis de gesso tipo IV foram obtidos e distribuídos randomicamente em quatro grupos (n = 10) a saber: Grupo In-Ceram, Grupo Procera, Grupo Empress 2 e Grupo Metal.. Após sua confecção, cada infra-estrutura foi cimentada individualmente sobre o troquél mestre, usando silicone de adição de ultra-baixa viscosidade para preencher o espaço entre a infra-estrutura e o preparo. Após a remoção das coroas, cada réplica foi pesada em balança de precisão e logo separadas nas porções correspondentes à interface parede cervical e interface parede ocluso-axial, sendo então pesadas separadamente, para posterior obtenção de seu volume. Resultados: Interface paredes do preparo/paredes da infra-estrutura: Neste computo geral, houve diferença estatística significativa (P < 0,0001) entre os grupos estudados. As principais diferenças quantitativas no volume da interface ocorreram entre o Grupo In-Ceram e os demais grupos. Interface paredes ocluso-axial do preparo/paredes ocluso-axial da infra-estrutura: Repete-se aqui, diferença estatística significativa entre os grupos estudados (P < 0,0001). Mantêm-se as principais diferenças quantitativas no volume da interface em relação ao Grupo In-Ceram. Interface parede cervical do preparo/parede cervical da infra-estrutura: Não houve diferença estatística significativa (P > 0,5) no volume da interface cervical entre os Grupos Metal (menor média) e In-Ceram, com este apresentando pequeno aumento no volume desta interface, comparado ao primeiro. Em relação ao Grupo Metal, o volume da interface cervical foi maior no Grupo Empress 2, seguido do Grupo Procera, ambos mostrando diferença estatística significativa no confronto com o Grupo Metal (P < 0,001 e P < 0,01 respectivamente). Não houve diferença estatística significativa (P > 0,05) entre os Grupos Procera e Empress 2. Conclusões: Exceto em relação à interface cervical, o Grupo In-Ceram mostou os melhores resultados, seguido do Grupo Metal, para o ajuste interno. Os Grupos Metal e In-Ceram apresentaram os melhores desempenhos no ajuste interno, para a interface cervical. Os resultados sugerem estas infra-estruturas como as mais confiáveis quanto ao ajuste interno dentre as testadas neste trabalho. / Objective: Compare the quality of the internal fit of three kinds of ceramic infrastructures and one kind of metal infrastructure, universally used systems for total crown moulding. Methods: Starting from the preparation of a total crown master, 40 dies made of gypsum plaster, kind IV, were obtained and distributed at random in four groups (n = 10) that is: In-Ceram group, Procera group, Empress 2 group and Metal group.. After moulding, each infrastructure was individually cemented on the master die, ultra-low viscosity silicon adhesive was used to fill in the space between the infrastructure and the preparation area. After crown removal each replicate was weighed on a precision scale and was then separated in parts corresponding to the cervical wall interface and the occluso-axial wall interface; they were then weighed separately to get their volume. Results: Walls interface of infrastructure preparation/walls: Within this general estimate a statistically significant difference (P < 0,0001) was found between the studied groups. The main quantitative differences on the interface volume occurred between the In-Ceram group and the other groups. Occluso-axial walls interface of the infrastructure occlusal-axial preparation/walls: Here again, a statistically significant difference between the studied groups (P < 0,0001) is present. Main quantitative differences on the interface volume remain in relation to the In-Ceram group. Cervical wall interface of the infrastructure cervical preparation/wall: No statistically significant difference was found (P > 0,5) on the cervical interface volume between the Metal groups (least average) and In-Ceram, the latter presenting a slight increase on the volume of this interface, when compared to the first one. In relation to the Metal group, the cervical interface volume was greater in the Empress 2 group, followed by the Procera group, both showing a statistically significant difference when compared to the Metal group (P < 0,001 e P < 0,01 respectively). No statistically significant difference (P > 0,05) was found between the Procera and Empress 2 groups. Conclusions: Except for the relation of the cervical interface, the In-Ceram group showed the best results, followed by the Metal group, for internal fit. The Metal and In-Ceram groups presented the best performance in the internal fit, for the cervical interface. The results obtained suggest that these infrastructures are the most reliable ones regarding the internal fit considering the ones tested in this work.

This thesis investigates and analyzes how Wu Zetian is portrayed in media directed at children. This thesis also plan to investigate how the portrayal of Wu Zetian in children´s media relates to academic literature. The main questions this thesis answered were the following: How is Wu Zetian portrayed in the source material? What qualities are attributed to Wu Zetian? Does the presentation of Wu Zetian in children´s media differ from the academic literature written by historians? If so, how?    The theories that this thesis was based on were the concepts that Bickford III and Rich presented in their study Examining the Representation of Slavery within Children´s Literature. These concepts were presentism, omission, chronological ethnocentrism, exceptionalism, heroification, and villainification. The second theory was gender theory. This theory was used as a theoretical interpretive framework for this thesis. The methods used were text analysis, close reading, and the theoretical concepts formulated by Bickford III and Rich.   The study concluded that Wu Zetian was mainly described in a glorifying light. The main attributes of Wu Zetian are positive, such as intelligence and beauty. The negative qualities attributed to Wu Zetian are that she was brutal. In general, Wu Zetian is presented and described in a positive and heroic light in children´s media. The difference in the presentation of Wu Zetian in children´s media and academic literature is minimal. In general, the children´s media downplays the brutal aspects of Wu´s life, while the academic literature talks about this aspect somewhat more. The main difference is that, children´s media is more glorifying and heroizing than academic literature.

No description available.

The thesis is a comparative and multidisciplinary study of legendary genealogies in the historical writing of northern England and Iceland c. 1120 – c. 1241. Historical writing was produced in abundance over this period in both areas and the frequent contact between England and Scandinavia, as well as shared use of early medieval insular sources make them especially suitable for comparison. The Viking invasions and settlement in England had a significant impact on English culture, language and literature and changed attitudes to their own legendary past. The Danish conquest of England in the early eleventh-century also brought the insular and Scandinavian worlds closer together, and even after the Norman Conquest in 1066, England and Scandinavia engaged in scholarly and textual exchange The theoretical framework for the thesis combines approaches from religious history, art history, political history, literature history and gender history. The main research questions of the thesis consider the dissemination, development, and purpose of legendary genealogies. The sources are a collection of Durham related manuscripts with illuminations of the pagan god Woden (c. 1120–88) in two historical works De Primo Saxonum Aduentu and De Gestis Regum; Genealogia Regum Anglorum (Rievaulx, 1153x54) by Aelred of Rievaulx; two works attributed to Snorri Sturluson’s Prose Edda (Iceland, 1220s) and Heimskringla (Iceland, 1225x35). Common to the sources is the inclusion of genealogies that stretch from legendary generations to living individuals at the time of writing. Thus, genealogies connected dynasties and civilisations in mutual descent from pagan, Trojan and biblical ancestors. By analysing textual dissemination as well as political contexts, literary patronage and mechanisms in legitimisation of power, the thesis address amalgamations of origin myths, the use and significance euhemerised pagan gods, and female generations in genealogies.

This paper, on the identities shown in one of the cameos in Empress Josephine’s pearl and cameo diadem, has first of all focused on the mythological characters, and thereafter raised the question if these are to be seen as an allegory for people from the time. The process of identi-fication has followed the three levels in Panofsky’s method for analysing art, where the first and second levels consist of already known material from the Bernadotte Library, Royal Palace in Stockholm and the jeweller house of Chaumet (former Nitot et Fils) in Paris.                      To decipher both the mythological individuals and the possible allegories, that is the third level, the iconology itself, the thoughts and methods of  Göran Hermerén on the rise and fall of allegories along with Leora Auslander’s solutions using visuals comparisons, when no written material is available, have provided the academic framework for the study.                                When comparing the cameo with pieces of art from the time, the subject fits the description of the Roman mythology’s love goddess Venus and her son Cupid, the lovechild fathered by Mars. Moving on to allegories, well-known material shows that Emperor Napoleon was keen to be portrayed as the god of war Mars and Empress Josephine as Venus.  A portrait of special interest to the study, a rather private painting by Parent from 1807, which is probably still unknown to most people, shows how Josephine is depicted with a recently deceased grandchild, a young boy how was also the nephew of Napoleon’s, a close relative to them both, and in the line of  succession to the throne, while Napoleon still was Emperor. This picture has an expression which is close to the one of Venus and Cupid, and it is also made to look like a cameo. These portraits were known at the time when Napoleon gave the diadem to Josephine in 1809.                                                       Among portraits from the Napoleonic era, there has earlier only been one known painting, even if in two examples, where the diadem is shown. It is a miniature of Empress Josephine, a work from her final period at Malmaison, 1814. However, another miniature picturing the daughter Hortense in the very same piece of jewellery, from 1812, has now become known. In both these examples, the depicted cameo has a hight measuring only millimetres, why a discussion on the execution and the rendering has to be done with restraint. But in the daughter´s portrait there is a certain attempt to show the outlines of the central cameo that differs from the later painting of the Empress. This may be an indication of how much more important it was for the daughter to relay the picture of her mother and the memory of her son, in 1812, than it was for Josephine in 1814, after the divorce, probably after the fall of Napoleon too, when she was no longer his Venus, and there was no longer a throne for any of her grandsons to inherit.         Therefore, in short, the chosen methods give the answer that the mythology depicted is a scene of Venus and her son Cupid, and the allegorical interpretation of Venus is the Empress herself. The child in shape of Cupid here, may well be read as one of her daughter’s sons, at the time a much longed-for heir to the throne of Napoleon I.