Late Roman Empire

Bust of Septimius Severus (image)

Statue of Caracalla (image)

Bust of Septimius Severus

Gilded to serve as imperial propaganda

Gold = immortal and pure

Forked beard

Septimius Severus

Takes over as emperor after Marcus Aurelius dies

Caracalla

Ruthless and mean-spirited ruler

Paranoid and on the defensive

Rules for 6 years after self-fulfilling assassination

Roman Expressionism

distort of shape, line, and form to illicit a feeling or emotion

the abandonment of naturalism

a reaction to Barbarian war

Sarcophagus of Roman-Barbarian Battle (image)

Sarcophagus of Roman-Barbarian Battle

Key example of Roman expressionism

Crammed composition

Romans on top, Barbarians on the bottom

Serpent = regeneration

Late Empire Burial Practices

Cremation of the dead due to Eastern influence

Mystery religions

Initiation through knowledge

Salvation and eternal life is promised

Shift from Roman maintenance religions

(ex: Mythros)

Battle of Romans and Barbarians

Barbarians wanting to take over Rome

Constant battle

Roman rulers kept getting killed

Statue of Constantine (image)

Statue of Constantine

Rejection of naturalism in sculpture

Constantine

Founds Constantinople

Bans paganism and the Games

Introduces Christianity