La considerazione sociale del lusso nell'Egitto romano

Based on a number of papyrus sources, both literary and documentary (CPF ii.3, Gnom. 8, pp. 105-111; P.Oxy. li 3643; P.Rain.Cent. 71; P.Oxy. xlii 3069; P.Mich. viii 468), this article explores the perception of luxury and frugality in Roman Egypt. It shows that the Epicurean thought on luxus was accessible to middle-class readership in the second century a.d., and suggests that it might have been known to the provincial élites as well. The individ- uals’ perception of luxury in everyday life, especially among the wealthy metropolitans and villagers, is more difficult to pinpoint. A Greek letter of the third century a.d. is examined which appears to combine elements of Seneca’s cynic-oriented approach to luxuria with Greek popular thought. Finally, this paper discusses evidence for the reception of frugalitas as a traditional Roman virtue in a Graeco-Roman bilingual family in the time of Trajan.