Breaking the Silence

“Breaking the Silence: Exploring Human-Animal Interactions in the Classical World” (BTS henceforth) is a research project funded by La Sapienza University of Rome.

BTS aims to analyse the complex and multifaceted relationships between humans and animals in the Greco-Roman world. Drawing from the growing field of Human-Animal Studies (HAS), it explores the historical, literary, and artistic evidence that sheds light on the significance of animals in ancient civilisations.

BTS builds upon different approaches within HAS, including anthropological studies, animal iconography, archaeozoological studies, studies on animals in ancient natural histories and philosophical thought, works on the epidemiology of representations of animals, and the history of zoo-technological knowledge.

BTS aims to fill a gap in existing research by examining the interactions between humans and animals in ancient texts and images from the perspective of animal agency. It will analyse various literary and visual representations, including narrative digressions, mythical accounts, medical and technical texts, reliefs, wall paintings, mosaics and funerary stelae.

Inspired by a systemic and pragmatic approach, BTS will emphasise nonverbal cues, contexts, and the relational nature of the interactions taken into account.

BTS challenges traditional communication notions by focusing on analogic features displayed in ancient representations of human-animal encounters. By studying how authors and artists frame these interactions, BTS aims to understand if and how they construct ‘anthropo-decentered’ versions of these encounters.

The research has implications beyond classical studies, contributing to our understanding of the broader human-animal relationship throughout history. It also provides valuable insights for contemporary studies in cultural anthropology, art history, ethology, and the philosophy of communication.