The concept of Limes from roman times to the present day: reinterpretation and interdisciplinary perspectives

Abstract

There is an urgency today to reinterpret the concept of borders and frontiers (Schmoll, 2022), by focusing on artificially constructed distances rather than naturally defined ones. The aim of this paper is therefore to re-examine, from an interdisciplinary perspective, the meaning of “border” starting from the Roman concept of limes, through a diachronic analysis of various aspects of frontier spaces (Rocco, 2020; 2024). In ancient Rome, tracing borders did not merely signify creating dividing barriers but, rather establishing multiple relationships: of a political, military, economic, and, naturally, cultural nature. In this context, the present study aims to propose a recontextualization of the concept of limes as an anthropo-ecological metaphor (Strongoli, 2021; Malavasi, 2007), and thus, an educational-cultural one, serving as an interpretative non-place in contemporary society, characterized by a need to rediscover a dialectical and intercultural dialogue (Fiorucci, 2020; Agostinetto, 2022) with otherness.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.33.2024.18