Ancient Rome

How does the Hellenistic period end the rise of Rome?

ends with Roman conquest of Egypt after Battle of Actium (31 BCE)

rise of Roman imperial power

Roman Republic time

146 BCE

What occurs during the Roman Republic?

Greece becomes Roman-controlled

• Battle of Corinth

Greece loses independence

Greek language and culture becomes very influential under empire and stays important

Transition to Empire time and what occurs?

27 BCE

Augustus Ceasar becomes first emperor

Rome becomes an Empire

Early Empire time

27 BCE - 96 CE

What occurred during Early Empire?

Augustus is known for establishing a long period of relative peace

Pax Romana

ended years of civil war

greater stability and peace

turned attention inward and began in investing in improving city of Rome

What is the symbolism of the creation of aqueducts?

demonstrated wealth, prosperity, power in the city

control of this natural resource

development of fountains

sanitation and health

sign of stability

biopolitics

showcase Roman engineering skills

What was the importance in the construction of roads?

expand their empire

move goods and people (soldiers)

better communication

Augustus of Primaporta, perhaps a copy of a bronze statue of early 1st century BCE

portraits of emperors served as powerful forms of political propaganda

stoic, decisive

no wrinkles or aging

eternally youthful and strong

• Augustus was actually older in real life but he is portrayed as young

pointing of finger to show ruling his people

toga and armour

• shows his rise to power due to conquering of states and political appear

posture and classical standard stance

• idealized body, perfect proportions

• contrapposto

cupid by his leg

• divine lineage

• evokes Venus (goddess of love)

• Augustus traced his family lineage to Venus

Ara Pacis Augustae, Rome, Italy, 13-9 BCE

Altar of peace

presented Augustus not only as a strong leader but someone chosen and supported by gods

dedicated to Pax Romana

functional altar where sacrifices were made and rituals to please the gods

he is the Pontifex Maximus (high priest of Roman religion)

left = Aeneas offering up a drink to the Penates, Italy 13-9 BCE

• Aeneas (son of Venus) making sacrifice

• reinforces Venus lineage

right = procession of the imperial family, Italy 13-9 BCE

• showcasing recognizable people (priests, children of foreign kings)

  • representation of children

  • showing a peaceful empire, foreign powers were in alliance with Rome

What occurs after the death of Augustus? What was their leader like?

Julio-Claudian dynasty

Nero as leader

• chaotic, egotistical

took his life to avoid assassination

Who reigned after Nero?

Vespasian-Flavian dynasty

construction of the Colosseum

The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheatre), Rome, Italy, 70-80 CE

highly political

• choosing side of Nero’s private villa to build a public structure instead

• reclaiming it

• undoing Nero’s selfishness and flamboyant lifestyle

• giving land back to Roman people

largest entertainment venue

area for gladiator and animal combats

lavish performances

By building the colosseum, what are the Flavian’s doing?

reasserting power of Flavian dynasty

restoring relationship with people

distracting the people to not stir any revolutions

What was the importance of concrete?

mixing chips of stone and sand with a binder (line and volcanic ash)

artificial stone that can be molded

durable, flexible, versatile

construction of complex vaulting system

arched structure

What is barrel vaulting?

continuous row of arches joined together

stackable

colosseum is stacked barrel vaults

What is the architecture of the Colosseum?

4 levels

entrances

arches are framed by pairs of columns

• engaged columns

• Roman columns were decorative not functional

• they serve aesthetic purposes

• arches and concrete are structural

columns evoke a link between Roman engineering and Greek orders

• Romans admired Greek culture

What are the orders in the Colosseum?

doric orders on bottom, ionic in middle, Corinthian on top

• hierarchy

• sturdiest at bottom and decorative and delicate at top

What are Corinthian orders?

leaves and complex fluting

several decorative bands

When was the Eruption of Mount Vesuvius and what did it cause?

79 CE

destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum

thousands of deaths

ashes preserved the paintings and buildings

• also preserved the casts of bodies

• seals them off from weathering and protects from looters

  • looters are people that strip buildings of precious materials

Fourth style painting, Ixion Room, House of Vettii, Pompeii, 1st c. CE

depicts typical Roman house

central courtyard (atrium) surrounded by colonnade

combination of illusionistic architectural elements (illusion of depth in wall art) with dense decorative details

complex compositions

visually extending the space of the villa

High Empire time

96-192 CE

Who followed Titus as roman emperor? What was he like?

Domitian followed

more like Nero

• cruel, egotistical, authoritarian

• he was assassinated

Senate tried to erase all evidence that he existed

• face was erased, sculpture was muted

• Damnatio Memoria

Which emperor followed Domitian?

Trajan

• loved by the people

• elected with consent of Senate

• Roman empire reached greatest expanse

• social programs, urban infrastructure

Don’t name but describe

monument to commemorate the defeat of Dacians

symbolic structure not functional

spiral relief goes around column

• frieze that winds like comic strip

• tells story of Trajan’s victory over Dacians

• he was a practical leader

  • turtle shell of shields to protect

• also showed Romans tending to the wounded

  • sense of realism

• most scenes on column do not depict battle and instead show preparing, negotiation, routine business of warfare

  • this is how Trajan wanted to be seen (hands-on and personally directed and expanding Roman empire)

Who succeeded Trajan?

Hadrian

begins to work on Pantheon

Apollodorus of Damascus, Pantheon, 113-125 CE

reveals full potential of concrete

facade

• corinthian columns

• triangular pediment sitting on top

• very Greek-like temple

building behind is revolutionary

• round in plan

Describe round dome behind Pantheon.

Rotunda

• immense cylinder

Dome

Oculus

• opening at the top at the apex

• dramatic effect with light, cinematic effect

• placing a hole at the most fragile point on the dome (where all tension lines converge)

Coffered ceiling

• ceiling is divided into recessed panels, creating a grid-like pattern

What are the two main points in the Andrette reading?

1. Rome urban experiences were characterized by sensory overload

2. experiences were highly stratified by gender, class, social standing

What is an insula?

a city block or an apartment building

What were Roman baths? What were gardens?

public thermae

people would go bathe, gossip, socialize

provide shaded walkways

both provide a relief to the senses from the urban environment

women were not permitted in these spaces

How did Romans change Greek religion slightly?

Romans identified their own gods with those of the Greek

Zeus became Jupiter

Hera became Juno

Aphrodite became Venus

During prime Roman religion, what happened to Christians?

Christianity was at the beginning but Christians were persecuted

• it challenged the Roman pantheon so it was threatening

• these Christians refused to worship Roman gods

Late Empire time.

193-337 CE

What occurs during the Late Empire?

Roman empire begins moving away from pantheon of gods

under the rule of Constantine the Great

Battle of the Milvian Ridge

he embraced Christianity

What was the Edict of Milan?

313 AD

granted Christianity legal status

Christians were no longer persecuted and were instead protected by law

What did Constantine the Great build?

built first Christian churches

first major basilica

turned public building used for admin and law court into Christian churches

What was the structure of basilicas?

rectangular in shape

wide central nave (alleyway)

flanked by side aisles and a roof built on two levels

didn’t use temples since they were too closely related to the Gods

Name piece and describe mosaics?

Christ between Four Apostles (The Miracle of Loaves and Fishes), early 6th century mosaic, Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna.

Jesus is larger and in centre with halo and crown

symmetrical and stiff pose with arms spread and face directly toward viewer

• almost Archaic

wearing empirical colour (purple)

represented as young, powerful, triumphant

background tells us were in a divine realm

move away from illusionism and realism

• it is not for the lack of skill, it is a choice to bring viewer into a spiritual reflection

mosaic is very durable and meant to survive the elements

• the choice of the medium says ‘Christianity is here to stay’

  Mosaics lined the altar and the naves

The Fall of Rome time. Who was the last Roman emperor?

476 AD

internal problems and constant political instability

external pressure on Rome

Roman empire falls

Romalis Augustus was the last emperor and forced to leave