Roman Art and Civilization

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to Roman Art and Civilization.

Pantheon

A temple dedicated to all the gods, significant in Roman architecture.

Veristic

A style of Roman sculpture that emphasizes extreme realism, particularly of facial characteristics.

Pax Romana

A 200-year period of peace and economic prosperity in the Roman Empire, beginning with Augustus.

Mosaic

Art made by assembling small pieces of stone or glass (tesserae) together to create a picture.

Coffered ceiling

A ceiling with sunken panels, often used in the Pantheon to reduce weight.

Atrium

An open-air courtyard in a Roman house, often receiving rainwater through an impluvium.

Cubiculum

A small room or bedroom in a Roman house.

Triclinium

The dining room in a Roman house, where diners reclined at meals.

Basilica

A public building used for legal and civic proceedings in ancient Rome.

Corinthian column

A decorative column style characterized by slender fluted columns and elaborate capitals with leaf motifs.

Forum

A central public space in ancient Roman cities used for various civic activities and gatherings.

Trompe-l'oeil

An art technique that uses realistic imagery to create the optical illusion that depicted objects exist in three dimensions.

Fresco

A technique of mural painting on freshly laid wet plaster, creating vibrant wall decorations.

Patrician

An aristocrat or nobleman in ancient Rome, often involved in politics and social leadership.

Exploration of different architectural styles

Roman architecture shows a variety of styles heavily influenced by Etruscan and Greek architecture.

Nabataean

Nomadic Arab tribes known for their trading routes and remarkable rock-cut architecture, such as in Petra.