Academics Lesson II—Classical Art Flashcards
Questions Influenced by Imperium by Julian Morgan and Liber Digitalis by David Jackson
What Roman structure is depicted in this image?
Colosseum
Fun Fact: The Colosseum, the first great arena in world history, is arguably the most splendid of Rome’s architectural achievements. Begun by the emperor Vespasian and dedicated by his son Titus in 80 A.D., the Colosseum held over 50,000 spectators. Gladiators and beasts fought on its arena floor in lavish public games for the amusement of the ancient Romans. This thirst for popular entertainment is immortalized in the Roman poet Juvenal’s quote “pānem et circensēs” (bread and circuses). The Colosseum gained its current name from a nearby statue of the emperor Nero (the Colossus Nerōnis). The ancient Romans called it the Amphitheātrum Flāvium, or Flavian Amphitheater, after the emperors who built it. Much of the southern portion of the edifice was destroyed by an earthquake during the Middle Ages.
What Roman structure is depicted in this image?
Forum Romanum
What Roman structure is depicted in this image?
A Roman Aqueduct (The Aqua Claudia)
Where can the statue of Romulus and Remus, as shown in this image, be found?
Capitoline Museum, Rome
Fun Fact: The story of Romulus and Remus begins in the city of their birth, Alba Longa. The king of Alba Longa, Numitor, was deposed by his brother Amulius. In order to prevent a challenge to his rule, Amulius forced Numitor’s daugher, Rhea Silvia, to become a Vestal Virgin. The god Mars fell in love with Rhea Silvia and she bore twin sons, Romulus and Remus. When Amulius learned of the twins, he ordered them to be cast into the Tiber river. The boys were found and nursed by a she-wolf (lupa). A shepherd named Faustulus found the twins and, along with his wife Acca Larentia, raised them as his own sons. After Remus was captured and imprisoned by Amulius, Faustulus told Romulus of his true identity. Romulus then led a group to rescue Remus and overthrow their uncle Amulius as king. The twin sons of Mars then restored their grandfather Numitor to the throne. After a while, Romulus and Remus decided to establish their own city on the banks of the Tiber. As they surveyed the future city of seven hills, each brother saw an omen. Remus first spotted six vultures soaring above the Aventine hill. Romulus soon after spotted twelve vultures over the Palatine. The brothers quarreled over the meaning of the portents, and each began to build the city on his respective hill. According to legend, Romulus killed Remus after the latter had leapt over the former’s walls and insulted him. Romulus, therefore, built his settlement on the Palatine hill. According to legend, Romulus established the Monarchy on April 21st, 753 B.C..
Who is depicted on the Corinthian plaque shown in this image?
Poseidon carrying a trident
Fun Fact: The main gods of the ancient Greeks took their name from their home on Mt. Olympus, the tallest peak in Greece. Zeus, whom the Romans called Jupiter, was the king of the gods and wielded the mighty thunderbolt. He and his brothers Poseidon (Neptune) and Hades (Pluto/Dis) drew lots to determine who would rule what domain on the earth. The sky fell to Zeus, the sea to Poseidon, and the underworld to Hades. Three goddesses, Hestia (Vesta), Hera (Juno), and Demeter (Ceres), were the sisters of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. Together they comprised the original six Olympians. Hestia was the goddess of the hearth and its sacred fire; Hera was a goddess of marriage, wife of Zeus, and queen of the gods; Demeter was the goddess of grain and the harvest.
Where can the Corinthian plaque shown in this image be found?
Louvre Museum, Paris
Fun Fact: The remaining Olympians were the children of Zeus. They are: Athena (Minerva), the goddess of war, weaving, and wisdom, born from the head of Zeus; Ares (Mars), the god of war, and Hephaestus (Vulcan), the blacksmith of the gods, both children of Zeus and Hera (sometimes Hephaestus is said to be the child of Hera alone); Apollo (Apollo) and Artemis (Diana), the twin children of Zeus and Leto (Latona). Apollo was the god of prophecy, music, poetry, the sun, medicine, and archery. Artemis was goddess of the moon and the hunt; Hermes (Mercury), the messenger of the gods and a son of Zeus and Maia; Aphrodite (Venus), the goddess of love, who was born from the foam of the sea (said by Homer to be the daughter of Zeus and Dione); and Dionysus (Bacchus/Liber), god of wine, who was the son of Zeus and Semele.
What Roman structure is depicted in this image?
A thermopōlium found at Ostia
Fun Fact: In addition to meals eaten in the home, Romans sometimes purchased meals at a thermopōlium, which would be the closest equivalent to a modern fast-food restaurant.
