This volume of AJAH contains 20 peer-reviewed papers delivered at the conference “The Roman Empire during the Severan Dynasty,” organized by John Cabot University's Programs in Classical Studies and Art History (April 15–16, 2011). The conference commemorated the 1800th anniversary of the demise of Septimius Severus, the last great emperor to lead the Romans prior to the third century crisis.

The papers highlight the historical, social and cultural episodes, conditions, and trends of the Empire at this time: Mark Gradoni, Parthian Campaigns of the Severan Emperors: Imperial Policy and Parthian Military Potency, 193–224 CE.; E.T. Walters, Unitas ex Africa: were Tertullian and Cyprian of Carthage unwitting architects of both Imperial and Church unification?; Jean-Paul Petit and Sara Santoro, Lo sviluppo del vicus Bliesbruck (Moselle, France) agli inizi del III sec. d.C. e la vitalità della Gallia Belgica mosellana nell’epoca dei Severi; Alice Dazzi, Water works and monuments in the Severan Age: some considerations; Jens Koehler, More water for Rome: nothing new in the Eternal City? Aqueducts, fountains and baths of the Severan Emperor; Simone Rambaldi, L’attività edilizia romana a destinazione pubblica fra i Severi e i Soldatenkaiser: trasformazioni e continuità; Müjde Turkmen-Peker, A note on the architectural decoration of the Severan period in Pamphylia and Cilicia; Giancarlo Germanà, Some observations on Sicily during the Severan Dynasty; Paola Puppo, Vestigia architettoniche del periodo di Settimio Severo in Tunisia; Ottavio Bucarelli, Il c.d. tempio di Serapide sul Quirinale. Topografia e archeologia dall’antichità al medioevo; Ivo Topalilov, The origo of the Thracian Praetorians in the time of Severans; Eszter Harsanyi, La ceramica a vernice nera di Treviri: un prodotto di lusso nella Pannonia durante l’epoca severiana; Edoardo Radaelli, Analisi di un riempimento fognario di età severiana dalle cosiddette “Terme di Elagabalo” a Roma; Lucia Afonso, Baetican oil and Septimius Severus; José Carlos Quaresma, Economic growth in the early and middle Imperial periods, pre-200 AD: an economic approach from a peripheral province, Lusitania; Daniele Malfitana, Carmela Franco, and Annarita Di Mauro, Economy and trade of Sicily during Severan period: highlights between archaeology and history; Florian Leitmeir, Between tradition and innovation: the visual representation of Severan Emperors; Andrea Gariboldi, Elagabalo invictus sacerdos: l’imperatore fanciullo e la centralizzazione del sacro attraverso lo specchio delle monete; Stephan Faust, Ideological messages and local preferences: the imagery of the Severan Arch at Lepcis Magna; Maria Lloyd, The Arch of Septimius Severus in the Roman forum: a re-consideration.

Eric De Sena taught ancient art and archaeology at John Cabot University (2003–2012) and currently directs the American Research Center in Sofia. His research focuses upon Roman cities and the Roman economy. De Sena has served on many archaeological missions in Italy, including the Palatine East Project, the Anglo-American Pompeii Project, the AAR/DAI Ostia Project and the Sangro Valley Project. He is co-director of the Porolissum Forum Project in Romania.