Roman Art + Archaeology

Lectures 11-22

The Triumph

• procession through the city of Rome

• celebrate a great victory of the State

• display of success and spoils taken for the glory of Rome

• general “King for a Day”

Who Received a Triumph

• a general with Imperium (Commander)

• triumphator ‘man of triumph’

Components of a triumphal

• spoils (anything taken from conquered peoples) (Including foreign leaders)

• general (Triumphator ‘man of triumph’)

• soldiers (of victorious army)

Fasti Triumphales

• Calendar of Roman magistrates granted a triumph from Roman monarchy to 19 BCE

Pomerium

• The boundary of Rome

• marked the city limits and where military triumphs were traditionally celebrated

• would have changed over time

Via Triumphalis

• Triumphal Way (route)

Temple to Divus Iulius

• Dedicated to Julius Caesar in 29 BC

• commissioned by Augustus

• Located in the Roman Forum

• converted into the Rostra lulia (speakers podium for orators/politicians)

Arch of Septimuis Severus

• located along the Via Sacra

• built after the triumphal celebration of Septimuis’s Parthian victories

• triple fornix (arches)

• scenes from the Parthian campaigns on it

Damnatio memoriae

• condemnation of memory

• easer of their memory

Contrapposto

• a sculptural position

• weight is shifted to one leg, while the other leg is bent

• has movement

tablinum

• a office/reception area for the head of the household

• ancestor bust placed here

• a room situated on one side of the atrium and opposite to the entrance

What are the four gens in order

• Julio-Claudian

• Flavian

• Nerva-Antonine

• Severan

Verism

• republican portraiture

• “warts and all”

• hyper-realistic

• individual features and imperfections, wrinkles, and asymmetry

Julio-Claudian Portraiture

• Augustus (27 BCE - 14 CE)

• Idealism

• serene, youth, less emotion

• ‘classicizing’

• athleticism (bodies)

Flavian Portaiture

• Vespasian (69-79 CE)

• return to verism

• Unidealized (not youthful, wise, experienced general)

• used the drill

what was the drill and what was is used for

• The drill was a sculpting tool

• used in Roman portraiture

• create intricate details, textures, and realistic features in stone, enhancing the lifelike quality of the sculptures.

• curls, female hairstyles, military uniforms, pupils

• slave/attendants would pull the string that pulls the drill

Nerva-Antonine Portraiture

• Trajan (98-117 CE)

• ageless

• youthful yet mature

• male hair is defined

• nude upper torso

• using the drill to create pupils is popular

Nerva-Antonine Portraiture pt. 2

• Hadrian (117-138 CE)

• Antoninus Pius (138-161 CE)

• Marcus Aurelius (161-180 CE)

• bearded wise

• military garb

• stoic

Severan Portaiture

• Caracalla (198-217 CE)

• Geta (209-211 CE)

• return to Verism

• militaristic hair style

• mean (Expressive)

What is chiasmus

• sculpture framing style

• people leaning away from the center

• the axis of the body is in a reversed s curve than a straight line

What is camaeus

• a low-relief portrait

• seen on Roman currencies

Die

• used to create coin designs and impressions on obverse and reverse

Brockage

• imperfectly minted coin

Polychromy

• statues were painted in colours

what was a Libitinarius

• they were a undertaker

• took care of funerals and burial arrangements in ancient Rome.

• they were prohibited from many places

what is Larve/larvae

• silver skeleton model placed on tables during feast

• representations of the dead in Roman funerary traditions.

• spirits of the dead

what was a ustrinum

• a building used for cremation in ancient Rome

• cremated remains in niches

What Dis Manibus (D.M.)

• to the manes gods

• to the spirits of the dead and ancestors in Roman beliefs.

What was the Tomb of Eurysaces

• outside Aurelian Walls

• buried within the Aurelian Walls

• Elite burial of a wealthy Roman baker

• Freedman?

Pyramid Tomb of Cestius

• Gaius Cestius (priest)

• death 18-12 BCE

• Tomb was in the city

Mausoleum of Augustus

• Tumulus - burial mound

• Campus Martius - burial site of the first emperor of Rome, Augustus, built in 28 BCE.

• Res Gestae Divi Augusti - bronze panels with inscriptions detailing Augustus's achievements.

• used to be outside of the city walls

• was then incorporated into the city when it expanded

Mausoleum of Hadrian

• re-claimed and turned into Castle St. Angelo

• 134-139 CE

• Hadrian buried in 139 CE

• final resting place of Sabina (wife), Lucius Aelius (son)

When did Mount Vesuvius erupt?

• August/October 24th 79 CE

Pliny the Younger

• letters to Tacitus describing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and its effects on the people of Pompeii

What is a Lupinar

• it is a brothel

• it was the largest in Pompeii

Tintinnabulum

• apotropaic device

• hung in Roman homes or at entrances to ward off evil spirits.

Battle of Issus Mosaic

• located at House of the Faun, Pompeii

• made with tesserae - small stones used in mosaics

1st Pompeian Style

• Masonry (~200-80 BCE)

• Stucco - plaster

• mimic the appearance of stone

• Identifying styles helps archaeologists date buildings

2nd Pompeian Style

• Architectural style

• 1st c. BCE

• illusion of Architecture

• Identifying styles helps archaeologists date buildings

3rd Pompeian Style

• Ornamental style

• ~20-10 BCE

• Thin spindly lines

• New age

• unrealistic

• creates a mock picture frame that shows scenes

• Identifying styles helps archaeologists date buildings

4th Style Pompeian Style

• Complex style

• 1st-2nd c. BCE

• combines all the styles together

  • 1st style stone work

  • 2nd style architecture

  • 3rd style narrative scenes

  • Identifying styles helps archaeologists date buildings

What is a domus

• Roman house for the wealthy

• small villa like structure in a city center

Villa urbana

• luxurious countryside residence often used for relaxation and leisure by wealthy Romans.

Insula

• smaller residence for the poor

• typically apartments

Parts of a Domus

• Vestibulum - foray

• Atrium - grand entree way

• Impluvium - small pool in the center of atrium

• Tablinum - office space where portraits of ancestors would be kept

• Cubiculum - rooms with beds

• Peristyle - garden

• Piscina - pool in the center of the cubiculum

• Culina - kitchen

• Triclinium - dinning room

• Lectus - daybed or couch used for reclining during meals

• Posticum - exit from the domus

• Fauces - small hallways

Roman Insula

• type of apartment building

• 12 story +

• bottom level had shops

• higher apartment = higher risk of death + cheaper rent

• The rich could own and rent insula

Insula, Aracoeli steps

• 2nd c. CE

• located on Capitoline hill

• 5 stories high

• first 3 levels were shops

• 4th level cell-like apartment rooms

• cloaca maxima - ancient sewer system in Rome.

Villa suburbana

• a country house or estate, typically located outside the city

Villa of Mysteries

• 79 CE

• frescos depicting rites being preformed

• meeting place for a mystery cult?

• depicting the God of wine (Bacchus)

Ostia (Antica)

• Port area for Rome

Athena Promachos

• 79 CE

• found at Villa of Papyri

• its is a reproduction of the on at Athens

• Allows us to see how the original bronze statue at the Athenian Acropolis would have looked

Villa of Papyri

• Villa Suburbana

• Collectors villa

• Held a Library of papyri

Pistrinum

• Ancient Roman bakery where bread was produced, often featuring large ovens for baking.

Thermopolium

• street food/live fires to cook food

• they could be owned by the family who lived in the house the shop was in

• likely rented out

imperial palace

• Palatine hill

• built between 81-92 CE (Domitian)

• Built on top of the remains of earlier structures (Nero)

• 4 courts

  • public areas

Aula Regia

• audience hall/ ‘royal hall’, throne room

• architect: Reberius

• both Corinthian and ionic columns

Banquet Hall (triclinium)

• built to rival the Jupiter Temple

• interior colonnade, fountain courts

• pink Egyptian granite (colourful)

• hypocaustum

Hypocaustum

• heated flooring

• the wealthy and bath houses had these

Third Court

• Piscina (pool)

• Peltae (curvilinear ‘shields’)

• upper level = receiving rooms

• Lower levels = below ground level

• island in center of pool

• Hippodrome

Hippodrome

• stadium used for horse and chariot racing

Hadrian’s Villa

• rule: 117-138 CE

• Built like a spa

• 30 buildings

• Bathes, fountains, theatres, gardens, stadium, plaestra, peristyles

• own fresh water supply

Augustus

• 27 BCE - 14 CE

• Emperor and Pontifex maximus

• imperial cult

• Via Labincana Augustus

  • statute veiled for sacrifice

• Augustus of Prima Porta

  • orator pose

Pontifex maximus

• head of roman state (religious leader)

Column of Antoninus Pius

• 161 CE

• A triumphal column in Rome commemorating Emperor Antoninus Pius and his wife Faustina.

• post-mortem dedication

• locations personified

  • Campus Martius

• apotheosis - becoming a god after death

Marcus Aurelius

• 161-180 CE

• Bronze statute

• equestrian statue

• Clementia pose - granting mercy

Commodus

• 177-192 CE

• ended a century of stability

• related himself to Hercules

• son of Marcus Aurelius, known for his extravagant reign and gladiatorial combat.

Crisis of the Third Century

• 235-284 CE

• A period of invasions, civil war, debasement of currency, economic collapse, plague

• division of the Empire

  • Gallic, Palmyrene, Roman

• 25 people claimed they were the '“emperors” of Rome

• Aurelian (emperor 270-275)

  • Unites the militaries throughout Rome

  • Defeats Palmyrene Empire 273

  • Defeats Gallic Empire 274

• Marcus Claudius Tacitus (ruled 276-276)

  • Stability

• Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus (Diocletian), 284- 305

Tetrarchy

• Diocletian created

• new governance

• system dividing the Roman Empire into four regions, each ruled by a co-emperor to ensure better management and defense.

• 2 Augusti + 2 Ceasares

Porphyry Group

• A group of Roman statues used to symbolize imperial power and wealth

What does provincio mean and how is it related to Rome

• province

• areas under roman control

• Rome overs them protection

What does pax romana mean

• Roman peace

What is terra sigillate and where is it found?

• Roman pottery known for its red slip and intricate designs

• it is found in Gaul and Italy

• 1st c. BCE/CE

• indicates Roman presence

African Red Slip (ARS)

• 2nd and 3rd c. CE

• large inclusions

• brick colour

Faiyum portraits

• realistic painted portraits on wooden panels or mummy wrappings

• roman province 1st c. BCE

• Hellenistic style

• mixed cultural practices

Temple of Divine Hadrian

• a temple dedicated to Emperor Hadrian

• built-in 145 CE

• Panels of the temple have personified geography/provinces on them

Therma/Thermae

• public bathhouses in ancient Rome

• featuring facilities for bathing, socializing, and exercising.

Apodyterium (baths)

• dressing room

• locker room

Palaestra (baths)

• open courtyard used for exercise and training

Natatio (baths)

• outdoors deep pool

• a place for relaxation

Frigidarium (baths)

• indoor cold pool

Tepidarium (baths)

• heated baths

• hypocaustum

Caldarium (baths)

• Hot baths

• like a sauna

• heated with hypocaustum

• has a Oculus to let light in

Latrines (baths)

• shared toilets

Strigil/strigils (baths)

• A curved tool used in baths for scraping dirt and sweat from the body after exercise or bathing

Baths of Trajan

• Esquiline Hill, Rome

• 109 CE

• 2 palaestra

• Ring of gardens

• meeting rooms around the garden

• blueprints for other imperial baths

Baths of Diocletian

• Near the Trian station, Rome

• 306 CE (4th c. CE)

• Largest bath in Rome

• Massive tepidarium

• could hold 3000?

• Bricks dated with stamps (helps with dating)

• converted into a museum

Baths of Caracalla

• located next to the Coliseum, Rome

• 212-216 CE (3rd c. CE)

• 2nd largest imperial baths

• Gardens, shops, pools, study rooms

• Public libraries (Greek/Latin libraries)

Mithraeum

• Baths of Caracalla, Rome

• 217-530 BCE

• Fossa Sanguinis - Collecting basin for sacrifice

• Celebration of the god Mithras

• black and white mosaic tiled floor and benches

• Tauroctony - sacrificing of a bull

Polytheism

• the belief in or worship of multiple gods

• common in ancient Rome

Monotheism

• the belief in or worship of a single god

• prevalent in later Roman history (Christianity)

ICHTHUS (fish)

• an early Christian symbol representing Jesus Christ

• The Greek word for fish

• "ichthys” is an acronym for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."

Constantine

• the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity

• 312 CE control of Western Empire

• established the Edict of Milan - granted religious tolerance and for founding the city of Constantinople

Chi-rho

• Lactantius dreamt of the Chi-Rho symbol

• Constantine put the symbol on his armies shields

Meta Sudans

• a large circular public fountain in ancient Rome

• turning point during a chariot race

• The start of Via Scacara

Arch of Constantine

• built in 4th CE

• Spolia from other imperial monuments were used in its construction

  • Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius, Constantine

• Hadrianic roundels

• and it commemorates Constantine's victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 CE.

Spolia

• architectural elements or materials from older buildings used in new constructions

roundels

• circular relief sculptures used to depict figures or scenes in architectural settings.

Basilica of Constantine

• located in the Roman Forum next to the via sacra

• built started by Emperor Maxentius 306 CE

• completed by Constantine 313 CE

• domed roofs

• 3 apes

• ‘flying buttress’

Colossal Constantine

• statute of the emperor Constantine

• legs, arms, and head made of white marble

• the body made of brick core, wooden exterior, gilded bronze surface

• held in the Palazzo dei Conservatori

• Verism