Riding the alterity. The depiction of pygmy 'warriors' in Roman Nilotic paintings

Abstract

In this paper, the focus is on the depiction of pygmies as 'warriors' in Nilotic Roman paintings. After a brief overview regarding the picta nilotica's spread and chronology, a particular attention is turned to the scenes of fighting between pygmies and Nilotic fauna. Furthermore, some aspects that mark this iconographic solution are highlighted: the varied and extravagant 'armour', tools and chargers used by the pygmies to defend themselves against the animal attacks living along the banks of the Nile.