Midterm II: Roman Empire

Question 1

Answer 1

Ara Pacis Augustea

Question 2

• Imperial Art – What is its message and its aims?
• Know Augustus, his history, and his deft use of art and architecture as propaganda.

Answer 2

• Imperial art shows the rule of one.
  
  • Propaganda for emporers rule.
• Augustus:
  
  • established the Pax Romana,
  • Rome expands,
  • trade becomes very important,
  • used art for propaganda
  • (drew from Egyptian, Greek ideals, etc to convince people).
  • used art to show passing of power from family members to
  • family members= inheritance.

Question 3

• Imperial Portraiture – How does it differ from Emperor to Emperor (Augustus to Vespasian to Caracalla to the Soldier Emperors of the 3rd Century)?
• Know its various guises – equestrian, general, religious, etc.

Answer 3

• Augustus:
  
  • Prima Porta Augustus.
    
    • Orator pose shows that he is conducting the army.
    • Greek ideal body,
    • wears general’s clothing.
    • PROPAGANDA- hand points to the heaven to show he is giving,
    • Roman general clothing (breastplate and swag).
    • Represents the ideal ruler.
• Vespasian:
  
  • brings back Verism- warts and all portrait style, because he needs to show that he is ‘one of the people’.
  • Looks very approachable and friendly.
• Caracalla:
  
  • very stern piece, looks very scary, not someone you would want to approach or confront.
  • Rome was in a decline and it shows in his portrait. Portrait of Caracalla.
  • Like Machiavelli said, it is better to be feared than loved.
• Soldier Emperors of 3rd Century:
  
  • soldiers overthrew the emperor and they all fought for Rome.
  • Portrait bust of Philip the Arab,
  • portrait of the 4 tetrarchs.
  • Art has gone downhill, not as skilled as they used to be because they are more focused on winning wars.
  • (Potrait of Thebonianus Gallus shows this decline in art really well)

Question 4

Augustus

Answer 4

Augustus: Prima Porta Augustus. Orator pose shows that he is conducting the army. Greek ideal body, wears general’s clothing. PROPAGANDA- hand points to the heaven to show he is giving, Roman general clothing (breastplate and swag). Represents the ideal ruler.

Question 5

What are the basic artistic and architectural elements of the Roman Coliseum? What is its message to the public?

Answer 5

• Built for the people for entertainment, ordered by Vespasian. Had gladiator events, hunts, performances, executions, races, naval battles, a consecrated space. Built with arches on top of arches.
• Engaged columns with all the orders to show the mixture of time and past events.
• Showing they understand history, etc.

Question 6

Know the meaning and use of Triumphal Arches and Triumphal Columns

Answer 6

A monument to show the greatness of a ruler and to commemorate them and/or a particular victorious event

Question 7

Forum architecture – know the basic elements and purposes of the Forum and their basilica (nave, aisles, exedrae. . . ).

Answer 7

Basilica Nova had wide open space that was used for law courts, games, etc.

Question 8

Hadrianic Architecture – How is the architecture of Hadrian the pinnacle of Roman Architecture?

Answer 8

Hadrian was much more intellectual. He was more interested in art and architecture and loved all things Greek. Built and created many things that looked like Greek pieces. (He also started to wear a beard.) Hadrian built the Pantheon. It was a modified Corinthian order and dedicated to all the gods. This piece of architecture was massive and extremely heavy that it sunk into the ground.

Question 9

Decline of the Empire: How was the decline reflected in its art?

Answer 9

Because the Empire ended in tons of war and harsh emperors, time and money were NOT spent creating ideal/realistic art, as had been done in Greece. It became more about narratives of victory and imperial propaganda than appreciation for perfect forms.

Question 10

Art of the Tetrarchy – What is its basic message? How is it unique?

Answer 10

Four rulers over 4 parts of Rome. Each statue is the same size and height. All on the same level. It’s a system. They’re embracing each other. The seniors= Augustus. juniors= caesar. Not idealized,narrative and symbolic. Always at the ready with their hands on swords. porphy: stone is naturally purple. purple=royalty. The message is that all four rulers are working together to benefit Rome. No one ruler is above another. They choose their “heirs” based on intelligence for the better of Rome. Unique because it has never been done before. They made everything work…

Question 11

Art of Constantine – How is he a throwback to the Emperors of the past? How is he a talisman of the future?

Answer 11

Constantine is a throwback to the emperors in the past because he recycled parts of decaying materials from Hadrian and Trajan to build into his own arch (focusing just on his arch). He didn’t have to make the materials himself. Art doesn’t have to be original, it can be copied from others. Talisman of the future because of his CHristian beliefs? He was the bridge that brought Pagans, Christians and Jews together by declaring Christianity as Rome’s newly established religion

Question 12

Rome Romulus Fasces Lictors Reeds Ax

Answer 12

FaxcRome: capital of Italy, “all roads lead to Rome” Romulus: legendary founder of Rome the Roman Forum & the Sacred Way: the main and widest street in ancient Rome Fasces, Lictors: fasces: 12 reeds and an ax. reeds: authority to punish. ax: kill lictors: a Roman civil servant who was a bodyguard to magistrates who held imperium.

Question 13

republic plebiam & amp; patricians plebians oligarchy toga consul a triumvirate

Answer 13

republic: rule of many plebians & patricians: plebians: lower class patricians: wealthy and powerful upper class oligarchy: small group of people running the government toga: garment worn in ancient Rome consul: one of the two annually elected chief magistrates who jointly ruled the republic. a triumvirate:a political regime dominated by three powerful individuals

Question 14

Battle of Actium Verism Dynamic Functionalism

Answer 14

Battle of Actium: 2 September 31 BC. Marc Antony kills himself. Cleopatra gets bit by a snake verism - hyper realistic, warts and all, wrinkles, scars, pimples. Often portrays the age and therefore wisdom of its subjects dynamic functionalism: engineering and an understanding of materials. skill and precision=innovation. Making things well, and making them pretty.

Question 15

arch keystone and amp vousoirs vault (barel, annular, groin) groin barrel semicircular vault dome tunnels

Answer 15

arch: read above keystone & voussoirs: read above vault (barrel, annular, groin): groin: two tunnels coming at perpendicular angles barrel: an elongated or continuous semicircular vault, shaped like a half cylinder dome: arches 360 degrees around tunnels: arches stacked next to each other

Question 16

exedrae engaged columns concrete (& its parts) mosaic

Answer 16

exedrae: a semicircular niche, large ones can form interior spaces engaged columns: built into the wall column, simply decorative concrete (& its parts) - aggregate (stone, tufa), water, sand, and lime mosaic: image formed by arranging small colored stone or glass pieces and affixing them to a hard, stable surface

Question 17

sulla

Answer 17

Sulla: he was a general of the late republic that desired power and put himself above the republic. he initiated social wars and picking off families. He commissioned the “Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia”

Question 18

Pompey Julius Caesar Marc Anthony &amp cleopatra

Answer 18

Pompey: part of First Triumvirate Julius Caesar: First Triumvirate. crosses the Rubicon in 49 BC “The Die is Cast” declares himself as “dictator for life” liked to identify himself as the ideal man Marc Anthony & Cleopatra: best friend and supporter of Julius Caesar

Question 19

Octavian Pax Romana

Answer 19

Octavian: great stepson of Caesar, the heir after Caesar dies. Began the “rule of one” with a transition of the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire. Changed his name to Augustus. Responsible for Rome’s golden age, major expansion of the empire, and much trade. Pax Romana: Latin term referring to the Empire in its glorified prime. From the end of the Republican civil wars, beginning with the accession of Augustus in 27 BC, this era in Roman history lasted until 180 AD and the death of Marcus Aurelius.

Question 20

Pontifex Maximus empire Virgil vitruvius

Answer 20

Pontifex Maximus: head of religion, the Chief Priest. (drapery and contrapposto) empire: rule of one Virgil: The Roman-race, “left to other nations such things as art and science…to spare the humbled and crush the proud.” Vitruvius: a roman architect, he gave the etruscan columns the name “tuscan order”

Question 21

Marcus Agrippa Aqueduct Tellus

Answer 21

Marcus Agrippa Pantheon states along the architrave that it was “built by Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, who was consul three times.” son-in-law and valued advisor of Augustus the aqueduct: The Roman Aqueduct: gives water from point A to point B through gravity. just cut stone, no masonry, just the weight of it is holding it together Tellus: Earth goddess bountiful, fleshy, prosperity, fertility cameos - a method of carving an object such as an engraved gem, item of jewellery or vessel made in this manner always features a positive (raised) relief image The Julio-Claudian Family

Question 22

Nero the golden house titus the fall of jerusalem

Answer 22

Nero: comes to power in 54 AD well fed, bad ruler never loses in the Olympic Games The Golden House built by Severus and Celer also known as Domus Aurea built for Nero has a dome and an oculus uses cement Titus - led troops into Jerusalem to crush a revolt from the Jews, captured the city, ransacked it, and took all the spoils of the temple. This is depicted on the Arch of Titus. Fall of Jerusalem see above

Question 23

the menorah apotheosis vesuvius

Answer 23

the menorah: Jewish candlestick depicted very clearly on the relief of the arch of Titus as one of the spoils stolen from the temple as a symbol of Rome’s triumph over Jerusalem apotheosis:the elevation of someone to divine status; deification. becoming a god Vesuvius: volcano. Erupted in 79 AD. created a time capsule for us, destructive to the people but a great boon for history.

Question 24

Herculaneum

Answer 24

Herculaneum: town destroyed after the eruption of Vesuvius, but has since been excavated and found nicely preserved. Hardly any corpses. The Getty Villa museum in Malibu is based on the “Villa of the Papyri” from this town

Question 25

Pompeii Nerva and aamp the five good emperors

Answer 25

Pompeii city that was discovered practically in place under solidified volcanic rock and ashes Nerva & the Five Good Emperors: Rome’s best 5 emperors. The throne gets passed from people to those who have intelligence, not to their idiot sons. They ‘adopt’ the next ruler Nerva -> Trajan -> Hadrian -> Antonius Pius -> Marcus Aurelius

Question 26

Trajan Dacia Basilica

Answer 26

Trajan: the second ruler of the five good emperors. Rome pushed to its power. He was quick to give back. Good emperors build. Built his own forum, used it for trade, gatherings, commerce, etc. The length was longer than the width. Dacia - the column of Trajan depicts the conquering of the Dacians basilica: large rectangular building

Question 27

Hadrian and ampl the maritime theatre oculus stoicism

Answer 27

Hadrian & his Villa: provided a lot of pieces that are in museums now. The Maritime Theater was his private quarters. He had to get there by drawbridge. Had bedrooms and its own bath system Grecophile oculus: a circular opening at the top of a dome to let light in - pantheon has this, built under Hadrian Stoicism

Question 28

Bath Architecture tepidarium caldarium frigidarium septimius severus

Answer 28

Bath Architecture (tepidarium, caldarium, frigidarium): frigidarium: cold water room tepidarium: lukewarm room caldarium: hot water room would start with the cold water and progress inward Septimius Severus born in africa start of severan dynasty, which succeeded Commodus

Question 29

The Pathetic Style Philip the Arab

Answer 29

the Pathetic Style - illustrated with the bust of Philip the Arab: an art style meant to appeal to feelings, emotions (pathos = pathetic) feels like Philip the Arab has no confidence in his ability to rule

Question 30

The Aurelin Wall Diocletian

Answer 30

the Aurelin Wall: created merely for defensive purposes. Not decorative or “dynamically functional” Diocletian: First ruler to die in his sleep, NOT by the sword. breaks Rome in 4 parts and makes it the rule of 4, tetrarchy.

Question 31

Constantine The battle of the Milvian Bridge Basilica Nova

Answer 31

Constantine: wants the power. has the dream of the cross the night before representing Christ. Won the battle the next day. moved people to the east to Constantinople and made Christianity the state religion The Battle of the Milvian Bridge Basilica Nova: wide open space used for law courts, games, etc. Enormous statue of Constantine inside

Question 32

Answer 32

Prima Porta Augustus

Question 33

Answer 33

Coliseum / Flavian Amphitheater

Question 34

Answer 34

Displaying the Spoils

Question 35

Answer 35

Arch of Titus

Question 36

Answer 36

Bust of a Flavian Woman

Question 37

Answer 37

Herakleitos, Unswept Floor Mosaic

Question 38

Answer 38

Column of Trajan

Question 39

Answer 39

The Pantheon

Question 40

Answer 40

Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius

Question 41

Answer 41

Commodus as Hercules

Question 42

Answer 42

Portrait bust of Caracalla

Question 43

Answer 43

Portrait of Philip the Arab

Question 44

Answer 44

Portraits of the Four Tetrarchs

Question 45

Answer 45

Arch of Constantine

Question 46

Answer 46

Colossal Portrait of Constantine