Ancient Rome Midterm

753-715 BCE

Romulus (Rome founded April 21, 753)

509 BCE

Foundation of Republic

55 BCE

first permanent stone theatre built (Theatre of Pompey)

44 BCE

Assassination of Julius Caesar

31 BCE

Battle of Actium in Greece, Octavian defeats Cleopatra

27 BCE

Octavian takes the name Augustus and is declared princeps, founding the empire. Pax roman is established

31 BCE - 14 CE

Augustus

Sacred Area at Sant’Omobono

Archaic Harbor Temple

Capitoline Hill

Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus

Forum Boarium (“cattle market”)

Round Temple, Temple of Portunus

Forum Holitorium (“vegetable market”)

3 victory temples

Republican Campus Martius

Sacred Area at Largo Argentina 4 victory temples; Theater of Pompey and Temple of Venus Victrix; Portico of Metellus/Octavia; Temple of Apollo Medicus/Sosianus; Theater of Marcellus

Augustan Campus Martius

Mausoleum, Ara Pacis, Horologium/Solar meridian, Res Gestae

Forum Romanum

Regia, Temple of Vesta, Temple of Saturn, Temple of the Castors, Tabularium, Rostra, Curia, Basilica Julia, Basilica Aemilia, Porticus of Gaius and Lucius, Temple of Divus Julius

Imperial Fora

Forum of Caesar and Temple of Venus Genetrix (Venus the ‘Foundress’), Forum of Augustus and Temple of Mars Ultor

Late Republican/Early Imperial Funerary Art

Tomb of the Baker Eurysaces; Pyramid of Caius Cestius

Archaic Harbor Temple

Early 6th BCE - Regal Archaic Period

Atop the high river bank

Temple, high podium, emphasis on frontal facade, acroterion: Hurcules and Minerva

Attributed to Mater Matuta or Fortuna

Connected Foreigners and neighbors who could interact here

Destroyed by a fire in the early republic period → construction of the monumental platform on top which the twin republican temples Fortuna and Mater Matuta will be built

temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus

538-509 BCE Regal Archaic Period

On the Capitoline hill

Begun by the last king of Rome (Tarquinius Superbus)

62 m by 53.5 m, rested on a high podium with central stairs, frontal facade, deep front porch, triple cella, mudbrick and wooden superstructures, terracotta decoration

Dedicated to the Capitoline triad (Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva)

Triumph procession ended with sacrifices, state acts deeds advertisement sybiline books (collection of prophecies)

Temple of Portanus

120 BCE

Located rectangular structure on the left bank of the Tiber dedicated to Portanus (god of the port)

Dedicated to Portanus

Decor mix of Etruscan/italic & greek designs, high podium, frontal emphasis, columns of Greek iconic order, entire structure covered in stucco

Early imperial restorations were made

Round Temple

100-90 BCE

left bank of Tiber, near temple of portunus

Built by unknown aristocrat possibly to celebrate a military victory.

decor is strong greek influence, circular without podium, peripteral temple (columns surround it) 20 columns, pantelic marble ($)

Victory Temple B

Temple of Janus sospita (Juno the “savior”) middle one:

197 BCE

Columns of Greek, ionic order

peripteral - surrounded by columns

Victory Temple A

Temple of Janus (Old paternal god) northern one:

260 BCE

columns in Greek ionic order

periportal but sine postico - no columns in the back

Temple C

Temple of Spes (“Hope”), south one:

258-249 BCE

columns of Greek Doric Oder

Peripteral - surrounded by columns

Four Victory Temples

On the southern campus Martius

all showing distinct italic characteristics

Mainly Tufa

Temple A, North One

mid 3rd c. BCE

dedicated to Juturna on the occasion of a naval triumph

Temple B, Round one

late 2nd c BCE. or early ist c. BCE

dedicated to fortuna Huiusce Diei

circular = greek & greek corinthian columns still has italic features

Temple C, Third from North

early 3rd c. BCE

dedicated to goddess feronia

Temple D, south one

early 2nd c, BCE

dedicated to lares permarini (protector of seafarers)

Theatre of Pompey

Period 55 BCE

Builder Pompeius

First stone permanent theatre, had a temple (venus ventrix), large portico stood behind the theatre with fountains and sculptures, rear wall of portico was curia of Pompey

Temple of Apollo Medicus/ Sosianus

34 BCE

Rebuilt by Augustus

Corinthian columns in luna marble, pseudo-peripteral temple

• pediment = amozonarchy in the presence of Athena

• battle scenes and triumphal processions

• topoleum

Used for senate meet when considering granting a triumph

Portico of Octavia

33-23 BCE

Built by Augustus

four-sided portico enclosed: two temples: temple of Juno, Regino, & Temple of Jupiter Strator

Two libraries & the curia of octavia

Restored with a new gateway under augustus, restored under severans

Theatre of Marcellus

13 BCE

Planned by Caesar, built and dedicated by Augustus

3 stories high, wedge-shaped walls with cement walls exterior arch, and vault substructure intavertine masonry

• lowest-level: Tuscan half-columns resembling greek doric columns

• middle level: unfluted ionic pilaster

• upper level: corinthian pilaster perhaps flanking square windows

scaenae furons (frontal facade): 3 story elaborate facade with columns, niches, and statues

Temple of Saturn

497 BCE rebuilt 42 BCE

Saturn: agricultural god of sowing and corn → saturnalia: festival held in mid-December

Hexastyle - 6 columns across the front state treasury

Temple of Castor and Pollux

484 BCE restored 7 BCE

octostyle - 8 columns across the front, housel standard weights and measures of marketplace

Podium used for public oratory, augustus declared war against cleopatra and eygpt on it

Rostra and Comitium

338 BCE

Rostra: speakers platform = decorated with beaks of ships

Comitium: meeting place of the popular assembly

Basilica Aemilia & Basilica Sempronia

2nd BCE

Basilica: large columnar public hall where business transactions took place & courts of law were held

Tabularium

1st c. BCE

Curia Julia

44 BCE started by Caesar dedicated by Augustus

new senate house

Temple of Deified Julius Caesar

42-29 BCE vowed in 42, dedicated in 29 by Augustus

second Augustan Rostra: built in front of the temple, decorated with prows of ships captured at battle of Actium

Rectangular and built on a high platform accessible by lateral ramps

circular altar built a semi-circular recess of the podium supposedly, marking the spot where the body of caesar had been cremated

apotheosis

elevation of deceased emperor to divine states

Mausoleum

29 BCE

Monumental dynastic tomb of his family

The entrance of the mausoleum had bronze tablets recording the Res Gestae (official autobiography)

Cement and tufa with white travertine stone

bronze statue of Augustus atop the tomb

Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace)

13-9 BCE

designs depicting Roman characters

relocated next to the mausoleum of Augustus

Solarium Augusti (Horologium Augusti)

10-9 BCE

colossal sundial

located west of the Ara Pacis in the Campus martius

cast shadow exact order of Ara pacis September 23, birthday of Augustus

Res Gastre

Augustus official autobiography with achievements

Forum of Caesar

Planned 54 BCE and dedicated 46 BCE, not done until the time of Augustus

rectangular central area flanked by a double colonade while the forum was paved with slabs of white travertine stone w. side - series of shops 3 stories high and irregular in plan

Temple of Venus Genetrix

cult statue of venus in apse

colossal bronze equestrian statue of Caesar in forum

Curia Julia (senate house)

Forum of Augustus and Temple of Mars

42 BCE dedicated in 2 BCE

Tomb of the Baker Eurysaces

30 BCE

peculiar tomb decorated with designs and reliefs that recalled his activity

Tomb for a freedman -ex-slave < tombs extravagant style

located at porta maggiore

Pyramid of Caius Cestius

18-12 BCE, completed in 330 days

tomb of Gaius Cestius Epulo (a pretor, tribune of plebs, and septemvir of the Epulones, a college of priests responsible for preparing the feasts in honor of the Capitoline gods)

concrete core faced with Luna marble

inspired by Egyptian influence after Augustus’ victory over Cleopatra and Egypt

not the only pyramid in Rome! But the only one to survive because incorporated into the Aurelian defensive walls (built by emperor Aurelianus between 271-275 CE)