Roman Art Flashcards
Monument of Philopappos
Athens
114-116 CE
Created by Philopappos as a mausoleum monument
Parthian Arch of Augustus
20 BCE
Rome
Arch of Nero
Rome
62 AD
Arch of Titus
81 AD
Rome
Built on the Veia - between palatine and esquiline, policy of returning land to the people, relief panels oriented toward the Capitoline Hill
Great Antonine Altar
167
Ephesos
Portrait of Julia Domna
193-94 CE
Arch of Septimius Severus
203
Rome
Memorializes the Parthian Campaigns, Close to the Parthian Arch of Augustus, Sons were elevated when Ctesiphon was taken in 198, Severus had the title Parthicus
Arch of the Argentarii
204 AD
Rome, near the Forum Boarium
Relief of Septimius Severus and Julia Domna, Also had Parthian Material on it
Marble Bust of Gordian III
243
Captured by Shapur I
Bust of Phillip the Arab
244-49
Also taken by Shapur I
Arch of Galerius
Salonika (Thessaloniki)
298-303 AD
Memorializing his efforts in the Persian Campaigns
Porphyry Portrait of Galerius
ca. 300
Athribis
Five Column Monument
303 CE
Rome, Near the Rostrum
Victories inscribe shield, barbarians below, Inscriptions on the shield, connects with a long history of such inscriptions in Roman Art. Suovetaurlia - tied into the purification sacrifice, killing of a pig, bull, and lamb. Performed for armies after battle, also after a successful sacrifice. Processional scene - very familiar with the historical tradition of Roman relief sculpture. Very “Naturalistic” in the scope of Roman Art
Style that comes under Septimius Severus
Sculpted column bases - also at the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Temple of Jupiter in the Several Forum @ Lepcis Magna – Would have been seen by people visiting the Rostrum (place for Oration)
Porphyry Sarcophagus of Helena
ca. 335 CE
Rome
Sarcophagus of Helena, 4th c., Mausoleum of Helena
Battle scene, made of porphyry – Imperial material
The coffin is carved with military scenes with Roman soldiers on horseback and barbarian prisoners. On the lid of the sarcophagus figures of cupids and victories hold garlands, while on the very top there are two lions either side of the ridge - one sleeping, the other lying down. This very military decoration, not really suitable for a female burial, has led scholars to suppose that the sarcophagus was originally made for a male member of the Imperial family, such as Helena’s husband, Constantius Chlorus or, more probably, Constantine himself.
Porphyry Sarcophagus of Constantina
4th c. CE
Rome, St. Constanza
The coffin is decorated on all four sides with garlands and grape vines, large acanthus scrolls and cupids treading grapes. Below there are two peacocks, a ram and a cupid with a garland. The lid is decorated with festoons of greenery tied to masks. The Dionysian decoration of the grape harvest also appears in the exquisitely refined mosaic decoration of the vault of the mausoleum of Constantia.
Mosaic pavement: Drinking Contest of Herakles and Dionysos
3rd c. CE
Antioch
Antioch Chalice
500-550 CE
Antioch
At one time, thought to be the holy grail - just a fun note
Mosaic Bust of Dionysos
325-350 CE
Antioch, Constantinian Villa, Room 1
One of 8 large medallions that formed the rectangular section of a large pavement covering the reception hall of a house. This was the first that one would see.
House of the Worchester - Hunt Mosaic
Early 6th c. CE
Antioch
Megalopsychia Mosaic Border showing Great Church at Antioch
Mid 5th c. CE
Antioch
Megalopsychia Hunt Floor
villa at Daphne (Yakto Villa)
5th c., Roberts fig. 4
Tethys Floor
from Antioch
4th c. CE
4 Seasons & Hunt floor
Constantinian Villa, Antioch
4th c. CE
Obelisk Base of Theodosius I
c. 390 CE
Constantinople
Column of Arcadius
Constantinople
Early 5th c. CE
Plan of Caesarea Palaestina
Plan of Gerasa
Cathedral
Jerash
4th c.
Pyxis with the Triumph of Dionysos in India
mid 6th c. CE
Possibly Syria
Ivory pyxides–cylindrical boxes, carved from cross sections of an elephant’s tusk–were used in Antiquity to hold valuables, and later used by Christians to hold the consecrated host. This pyxis shows scenes from classical mythology. Dionysos, a son of Zeus, rides in his chariot overseeing his conquest of India. The pyxis recalls the epic stories of Dionysos penned by a fifth-century poet of Egypt, Nonnos of Panopolis; both attest to the persistent popularity of Dionysiac themes well into the Christian era.
Emperor Justinian And his Retinue
Mosaic
547 (San Vitale)
Silver Plate with David and Goliath
629/30
Missorium of Theodosius I
Late 4th c. CE
Baalshamin Triad
Palmyra
50 CE
Plan of Antioch
Seleucid/Roman
Khazneh
Late 1st c. BCE (Probably under Aretas IV)
Petra
Khazneh – 3rd quarter of the 1st c. BCE
Tomb, though mislabelled as a “Treasury”
Closely related to Alexandrian palace and tomb architecture, second style of Pompeiian wall painting ( as per Wenning) – possibility of Ptolemaic Architects/masons (Stewart)
Likely Aretas III Philhellen (85-62 BCE) or Aretas IV (9 BCE-40 CE) (latter most likely with Corinthian columns)
“Hellenistic Façade”
No texts identify the owner, likely one of the Nabatean kings
Position at the beginning of the valley indicates the possibility that it was one of the earlier tombs of the kings
Heights of the two stores (3:2) suggest pre-Roman construction (1:1 roman ratio)
Plan of Petra
Plan of Palmyra
Temple of Bel
Palmyra
2nd c. CE
Temple of Baal Shamin
Constructed 20 BC, Inagurated 130 CE (Hadrian)
Palmyra
Tomb of the 3 Brothers
Palmyra
2nd c. CE
Sculpture
Tomb of the 3 brothers
Limestone, 2nd c. CE
Sacrifice of Konon
Temple of Bel, Palmyra
c. 180
Julius Terentius Fresco
Dura Europos, Temple of the Palmyrene Gods
ca. 239 CE
