the roman empire gardner chapter 10-4 pp. 260-267
TRANSCRIPT
THE ROMAN EMPIREGARDNER CHAPTER 10-4
PP. 260-267
THE FLAVIANS Nero is forced to commit suicide
in 68 CE -> Vespasian becomes emperor -> the Flavians -> his 2 sons Titus and Domitian will become emperors
COLOSSEUM The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater), Rome,
ca. 70-80 CE
Vespasian builds on the drained lake that was part of Nero’s Domus Aurea -> reclaims the land for the public -> smart politics
Complex system of concrete barrel vaulted corridors hold up an enormous oval seating area -> could seat 50,000
Substructures held waiting rooms for gladiators, animal cages, and machines for raising stage sets
76 gateways to the tiered seats
Façade has 4 bands w/ large arched openings -> Tuscan, Ionic, then Corinthian orders frame the arches -> engaged columns and lintels -> combines Greek architecture and the Roman arch
FLAVIAN PORTRAITURE
Portrait of Vespasian, ca. 75-79 CE, marble, 1’4”
Vespasian was a career army officer -> distances himself from Nero’s extravagance and the Augustan tradition of emperor’s portrayed as eternal youthful gods on earth
Return to the veristic tradition of the Republic
PORTAIT BUST OF A FLAVIAN WOMAN
Portrait bust of a Flavian woman, from Rome, Italy, ca. 90 CE, marble, 2’1”
Portraits of people of all ages survive from Flavian period -> not just elders
Purpose of this bust is to project idealized beauty -> contemporary fashion -> elegance and delicacy
Elaborate coiffure w/corkscrew curls -> sculptor used a drill to produce this effect -> creates dense mass of light and shadow
ARCH OF TITUS
Arch of Titus, Rome, after 81 CE
Erected by the Emperor Domitian in honor of his brother Titus
TRIUMPHAL ARCH = long history of these in Roman art and architecture = free standing arches commemorated a variety of events
Engaged columns frame the arcuated opening -> composited columns Ionic and Corinthian
Reliefs depict victories on the spandrels of the passageway
ARCH OF TITUS – RELIEF
PANELS
Spoils of Jerusalem, relief panel from the Arch of Titus
Triumphal parade of Titus following his conquest of Judea
Convincing illusion of movement -> high relief in contrast ot the Classical low relief style of the Ara Pacis
Reconstruction of the Triumph of Titus, relief panel from the Arch of Titus
Figure of victory crowns Titus in his triumphal chariot -> bare chested youth personifies honor -> female leading horses personifies valor
First example of the intermingling of human and divine figures in a Roman historical relief
HIGH EMPIRE
2nd century CE -> Roman Empire reaches its greatest geographical extent
The height of Roman power
Secure boundaries of the Pax Romana prosperity for all who came under Roman rule
TRAJAN
Domitian’s extravagant lifestyle and huge ego anger the senators and he is assassinated in 96 CE
The senate picks the elderly senator NERVA to be emperor -> he had adopted a popular and successful general to be his son and successor = TRAJAN
Trajan was born in Spain -> first non-Italian to rule Rome
Trajan was voted the title OPTIMUS (the best) -> he and Augustus will be the models for successful rule
FORUM OF TRAJAN Forum of Trajan, Rome, dedicated 112 CE,
designed by Apollodorus of Damascus
Huge new forum built by Trajan -> twice the size of the forum of Augustus -> celebrated Trajan’s victories over the Dacians
4 – Basilica -> apses, or semicircular recesses at each short end -> two aisles flank the central nave -> clerestory windows
1 - temple
2 – Column of Trajan
3 – libraries
5 – forum
6 – equestrian statue of Trajan
COLUMN OF TRAJAN
Column of Trajan, Forum of Trajan, Rome, 112 CE
Colossal free standing column covered with a continuous spiral narrative frieze 625 long
Tall pedestal served as Trajan’s tomb
Spiral frieze relief depicts Trajan’s campaigns against the Dacians -> 150 episides -> 2500 figures -> band increases in width as it rises
Low reliefs show all aspects of the Dacian Wars from battles to transport to road and fort building
MARKETS OF TRAJAN Aerial view of the Markets of
Trajan, Rome, 100-112 CE -> designed by Apollodorus of Damascus
On the Quirinal Hill overlooking the forum -> housed shops and offices
Concrete construction on a sloping site allowed for a multilevel complex -> contained a two story great hall with the upper level set back and lit by skylights -> groin vaults over the central space
ARCH OF TRAJAN, BENEVENTO
Arch of Trajan , Benevento, Italy, 114-118 CE
Architecturally almost identical for the Arch of Titus -> but relief panels cover both sides and every inch celebrates the Emperor’s achievements on and off the battlefield
Kind of like a billboard advertising the emperor
Emperor in the company of the gods in some scenes