Week 4 Flashcards
The Architecture of Religion and The Roman Republic
Describe the architectural features and layout of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus.
Featured a triple cella housing statues of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. Its cult statue, sculpted by the Etruscan artist Vulca, was made of terracotta. The temple was oriented towards the Palatine Hill.
What was the significance of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus in ancient Rome?
Center of State religion in ancient Rome. Where new magistrates were sacrificed at the altar, and the Senate held its first meeting of the year.
What was the purpose of the Vestalia festival in ancient Rome?
A festival held from June 7th to 15th, allowed young mothers to enter the temple to make sacrifices. Donkey woke up Vesta and sacred Priapus, sacrifice donkeys.
What was the purpose of the Saturnalia festival in ancient Rome?
Held from December 17th to 23rd, dedicated to the god Saturn. It served as a precursor to Christmas with role reversals, where slaves and household attendants became masters temporarily.
What was the purpose of the groma?
Crucial tool in Roman surveying, aiding in the precise alignment of structures and roads by providing vertical and horizontal reference points using strings and weights attached to a vertical staff with horizontal crosspieces.
Describe the architectural features and historical significance of the Pantheon in ancient Rome.
originally built in the 1st century BCE by Agrippa and later reconstructed by Hadrian in 128 CE, was located in the center of the Campus Martius. It featured a rotunda with an oculus (hole) at the top, allowing light and rainwater to enter. The building boasted monolithic columns made of Egyptian granite and Greek pentellic marble. The Pantheon served as a temple dedicated to all gods and is renowned for its architectural innovation and grandeur.
What were the Galli?
Self-castrated eunuchs who believed in a third or less defined gender. Change in gendered vocabulary and dressing.
Who were the Mithras?
Mystery cult with a 7-stage initiation and ended with a syndexioi (‘handshake bros’). Underground temples, (mithraea). Tauroctony (slaughtered bull in cave).
What were the main types of Roman military camps, and how were they used?
Castra types: tertio castra (three-day) and quarto castra (four-day), used for short-term stays during military campaigns, and standing camps (castra stativa). More common during the reign of Augustus as permanent bases for soldiers and providing infrastructure for long-term occupation.
What was the significance of the Horologium?
In the Campus Martius, timekeeping device consisting of an obelisk and sundial. Associated with the Ara Pacis, symbolizing Augustus’s dedication to peace and prosperity during his reign.
What factors contributed to the superior durability of Roman concrete?
When mixed with lime and aggregate, a chemical reaction resulting in self-healing properties, ensuring structural integrity over time. Incorporation of lime clasts and the use of quicklime, which released heat during curing.
What other function did the Temple of Saturn have?
Was a treasury
What temple of two goddesses was built by Hadrian, opposite to the colosseum?
Roma and Venus
What is strange about the Temple of Concordia?
is perpendicular to its pronaos
What material was the domed vault of the Pantheon build of?
concrete
