SLIDE - Model of Forum & Basilica Ulpia, by Apollodorus of Damascus. Rome, Italy. 112 CE.
Rome’s emperors created monumental civic centers during Rome’s height.
Augustus had paved & restored the city’s old Republican Forum, built 1st Imperial Forum
It was a monumental civic center & gathering place.
With administrative centers, temples and halls
A few years later, Emperor Trajan began the last and largest Imperial Forum Hadrian finished it. Twice the size of Augustus’s forum.
Trajan was Spanish-born. 1st non-Italian to rule Rome.
Trajan chose a Greek architect, Apollodorus of Damascus.
Built on a large piece of property, next to the old forums of Augustus & Caesar.
A very dense building plan
Center square with a statue of Trajan on horseback.
The Basilica Ulpia is at the north end of the forum, instead of a temple.
The Column of Trajan next to the basilica.
SLIDE - Interior, Basilica Ulpia.
Dedicated in 113 CE, named for Trajan’s family.
385’ long x 182’ wide (not including the apses).
Name comes from Ulpius - Trajan’s last name.
Basilicas are large, rectangular building with an APSES (rounded extension) at each end.
They were general-purpose administrative structures.
This one used as a court of law
Other basilicas used for schools, army drill halls, etc.
Provides a large interior space with easy access in and out
Doors on the long sides.
The NAVE (large central space) is flanked by 2 colonnaded aisles.
Topped with a CLERESTORY (upper nave wall with windows).
Like the one used in Karnak, Egypt.
The central space was taller than the surrounding galleries
Lit directly by the clerestory windows.
APSES provided imposing settings for judges when court was in session.
These architectural features later adopted by Christian churches.
SLIDE - Trajan’s Column (outside Basilica Ulpia)
Rome. 112 CE. Marble. About 125’ tall (with base).
Behind the Basilica Ulpia was an open courtyard
In the courtyard is a great spiral column that became Trajan’s tomb
Emperor Hadrian placed Trajan’s ashes in a golden urn
Stored inside the base of the column.
Trajan’s wife’s ashes too - in another urn
It commemorates Trajan’s victory over the Dacians
The Dacians are from what is now modern Romania.
Decorated with a continuous narrative relief that spirals upward in a band.
It would be 625 feet long if it could be rolled out flat.
Has more than 2,500 people carved on it
Figures linked by landscape, architecture, and the recurring figure of Trajan.
Not in chronological order. Preparing for battle.
The width of the band expands from 3 feet (at bottom) to 4 feet at the top,
Corrects the fact that it’s harder to see when higher up
Originally topped with a gilded bronze statue of Trajan
Statue was replaced in 1587, with the statue of St. Peter – still there today
By order of Pope Sixtus V
SLIDE - Markets of Trajan. (part of the Forum) Rome. 100 - 112 CE.
During the building of the new Roman Forum, builders had to tear down some markets. To make up for this, Trajan had a new public market built.
Markets were an essential part of city life
Improving them was a way for rulers or wealthy families to gain public favor.
Built on the sloping hill in several levels, using concrete.
Some detail work in wood, but mostly concrete
More than 150 shops on several levels, lit by skylights.
About the same size as a large modern shopping mall.
Large, groin-vaulted main hall.
SLIDE - The Pantheon. Rome, Italy. 118-125 CE.
Built as a temple to the Olympian gods that still stands today. Pantheon = “all the gods”.
Amazing, revolutionary architecture.
Completed under Hadrian
In 609 CE, The Pope (Boniface the 4th) dedicated the Pantheon as a Christian Church
That’s why it survived through the Middle Ages –
A time when most pagan temples were destroyed
Would have been grander & taller & more impressive during its day
Was up a flight of steps, but city roads have been built up, covering the stairs
From the front it doesn’t look much different from other typical Roman temples.
Then you see the dome.
This temple is more about the INTERIOR space, than the exterior appearance.
SLIDE - Pantheon, Interior
Behind the porch is a giant rotunda with 20 ft. thick walls that rise nearly 75 feet.
The walls support a bowl-shaped dome that is 143’ diameter and 143’ tall.
Standing beneath the dome, you are supposed to feel isolated from the outside world Intensely aware of the shape and of the interior space.
Built to feel like you could rise up buoyantly to escape the sphere of the building and commune with the gods.
The eye is drawn upward over the patterns made by the sunken panels, called coffers
They lighten the weight of the masonry.
Oculus - hole in the ceiling that lets in light
Also lets in rain, and the occasional bird flies in.
There are planned drains in the floor for rainwater.
Seems like a simple design, but the design is actually very sophisticated
Required very careful engineering.
Outside, a thin layer of marble disguises the brick arches & concrete structure.
The interior walls support & buttresses the dome
Disguised by architectural detail like richly colored marble.
Uses columns, pilasters (rectangular flat columns), exedrae (semi-circular niches)
The wall has 7 niches - rectangular alternating with semi-circular –
Originally held statues of the 7 gods.
Much of the original decoration survives.
Contrast - square vs. circle is repeated throughout the building.
SLIDE - Canopus - Hadrian’s Villa. Tivoli. 135 CE.
Hadrian re-created his favorite places throughout the Roman Empire.
Built 20 miles from City of Rome.
A true “pleasure palace” - luxurious
Could enjoy it in fantasy rather than reality.
This part is called the Canopus after a site in Alexandria.
A long reflecting pool lined with a colonnade
Alternates semicircular & straight lintels.
Greek statues (some copies, some real) filled the spaces between the arches.
Even the caryatids of the Erechtheion were copied here.
SLIDE - Mosaic - Battle of Centaurs & Wild Beasts, Hadrian’s Villa.
118 - 128 CE.
Mosaics were the typical floor covering in fine houses, villas, and public buildings
Very common in the Roman Empire.
Mosaicists used tesserae (small cubes of stone) to create sparkling effects.
This one from Hadrian’s villa shows the artistry that can be achieved with mosaic.
*Handout - page 268.
SLIDE - Equestrian statue of Marcus Auerlius.
Rome. 175 CE. Bronze. 11’ 6” tall.
Equestrian statues were often used for Imperial portraits, but few have survived.
This one did because it was mistaken to be a portrait of Constantine
He was known in the Middle Ages as the first Christian Emperor
Wasn’t melted down like most other Roman equestrian statues.
Made of bronze, was originally gilded, some gold left on the statue.
Marcus Aurelius was a successful military commander
Wears his military commander dress: a tunic and short, heavy cloak.
Also quite proud of his intellectual abilities.
Marcus Aurelius both wore thick curly hair & a beard
Thought it enhanced his intellectual image
Resembles the traditional “philosopher” look of the Republican period.
The whole portrait is blatant propaganda.
Does NOT wear armor, NO weapons –
He conquers effortlessly by the will of the gods.
Reaches out to the people in a persuasive gesture.
The raised foreleg of his horse once trampled a crouching barbarian.
Hard to create an equestrian portrait in which the rider seems more important than horse
The sculptor of this statue found a balance acceptable to viewers of the time Created a model for later artists.
*DEATH RITUALS IN ANCIENT ROME*
SLIDE - Child’s Sarcophagus. Rome.
There was a shift in Rome from cremation to burial
Led to a demand for funerary sculpture.
The wealthy commissioned elegant marble sarcophagi to be placed in their tombs.
Carved with reliefs, many extremely complex, nearly 3D
Everything from simple geometrics or florals to scenes w/ large # of figures.
Some included scenes from life of deceased
Some from Greek mythology, or drama scenes
SLIDE – Fayum Mummy Portraits
From 1st to 3rd century CE in Egypt, common to use painted panel portraits—
Also known as Fayum portraits
Placed over the heads on mummy cases.
Greco-Roman painting style but with an Egyptian purpose
Direct gaze and strong presence
SLIDE – Commodus as Hercules
He was Marcus Aurelius’s son (movie Gladiator).
Probably insane. Liked to dress as a gladiator.
Decadent, spent his time in luxury.
Claimed he was a reincarnation of Hercules – club, lion skin, holds golden apples.
He looks foolish here, despite the great textures in the sculpture.
SLIDE - Septimus Severus & Family.
Fayum, Egypt. 200 CE. Tempera paint on wood. Diameter 14”
The reign of Commodus destroyed what his predecessors built.
Rome fell on hard times, though the arts continued to flourish.
Septimus Severus succeeded Commodus
Restored public buildings and commissioned portraits.
This one is in highly formal style of Fayum religion in NW Egypt.
Paintings like this were often souvenirs from Egypt.
Septimus Severus wears his distinctive crown. Darker skin – he was African.
Has graying hair at the temples to indicate his age.
His wife Julia Domna with masses of waving hair
2 sons, Geta & Caracalla, but Geta has been scratched out of the portrait. Why?
Caracalla & Geta succeeded their father as Co-Emperors
Caracalla didn’t want to share – Had Geta murdered so he could rule alone.
Caracalla was a ruthless dictator. Even had his own wife murdered.
He issued a decree to abolish any reference to Geta’s existence.
The owners of this piece obviously complied and scratched out Geta’s face.
Important piece - the only painted portrait of aRoman emperor to survive the ages.
SLIDE - Bust of Caracalla. 211 - 217 CE. Marble. 1’ 2” high.
Caracalla is always represented with a scowling expression.
He was a no-nonsense, iron-fisted ruler, calculating, ruthless.
Looks just like that.
Also looks as if he is suspicious of something
Rightfully so - he was murdered in the sixth year of his reign.
SLIDE - Baths of Caracalla. Rome. 212 - 216 CE.
Septimus Severus begun construction of this popular public works project
Caracalla (his son) completed them, so they are known under his name.
Baths were recreation and education centers, not just places to wash.
Like a health club or spa.
Strictly symmetrical layout.
Decorated with frescoes and mosaics, gardens.
Men & women could not go at the same time, or had separate bath houses.
EVERYONE in Rome could use the public baths, despite social class.
SLIDE - The Tetrarchs. Constantinople. 305 CE. Porphyry. 4’ 3” tall.
Emperor Diocletan was a brilliant politician & reversed the Empire’s economic decline.
He imposed rigid rule systems
Distributed the task of enforcing & defending the empire to others
Created a “tetrarchy” - “rule by four”.
Divided Roman Empire into 4 sections – E-W, and those into N-S
*Milan, *Trier, Germany, *Thessaloniki Macedonia
and *Nicomedia (modern Izmit in Turkey)
Assigned 3 others to help him rule.
Actually worked well for a while, but fell apart when Diocletan retired.
Sculpture is more toward abstraction - symbolic rather than highly realistic.
The Four men are nearly identical & embrace each other in a gesture of unity.
No individuality, stand as one cohesive unit.
Represent peace through strength & vigilance
Blatant & extreme propaganda
It has an Egyptian look
Carved from an Egyptian purple marble (porphyry)
Has an Egyptian artistic style & disregard for normal human proportions
Might have been made in Egypt then moved to its intended location.
SLIDE - Arch of Constantine. Rome. 312 - 315 CE.
When Diocletan retired, civil war broke out in a fight for power.
Constantine the Great was the son of Diocletan’s Caesar – he won.
He felt his victory was in part due to the Christian God (his mom was Christian)
Decided to end persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire
Signed the Edict of Milan – respected all religions.
This arch commemorates the battle he won, defeating his opposition to rule Rome.
(Battle of Milvian Bridge, Constantine defeated Maxentius)
Took sculptural reliefs off the arches of previous Roman Emperors, put on his.
Stole from arches of Hadrian, Trajan, Marcus Auerelius – the “Great Emperors”
Partly to equate Constantine with the best Emperors.
Partly because creativity declining during this time, into the Middle Ages.
Figures on his arch that weren’t stolen were stubby, less Classical, or Greek looking.
SLIDE - Basilica Nova (Basilica of Constantine). Rome. 306 - 312 CE.
Maxentius (Constantine’s Rival) began this basilica, but Constantine finished it.
HUGE interior space, very impressive.
115’ high ceilings, groin vaults in the nave – let in lots of light.
Coffered barrel vaults in the sides
20’ thick concrete walls.
Beautiful marble and stucco decoration throughout.
Colossal portrait statue at the West end that would have awed anyone inside.
SLIDE -Portrait of Constantine the Great, from Basilica Nova.
Rome. 315 - 330 CE. Marble. Head is 8’ 6” tall.
Constantine commissioned this colossal 30-foot portrait statue of himself and
Placed in the west apse of the Basilica Nova.
Head, chest, arms & legs carved from white marble.
Hung on a wooden frame, with bronze drapery.
Combines features of typical Roman portraiture with abstract qualities like the Tetrarchs. Imperial propaganda - Constantine was a master of it.
Huge & awe-inspiring – sheer size was impressive.
Steely gaze
Shows him as forever young & strong.
Conveys the power of an absolute ruler.
Began attending Christian Church
In 325 CE, had Christianity declared official religion of the Roman Empire.
Pagan religions began to decline quickly.
Constantine founded a “New Rome” in Constantinople, Turkey
Power & influence of Rome shifted there, to the Eastern side of the Roman Empire