WEEK THREE: Republican Art and Architecture Flashcards
art, temples, concrete, slaves and revolts
In beginning of slideshow 014
Picture Examples of Art from the Republican Era
Temple of Hercules Victor: Unusual circular shape.
Temple of Vesta: Semi-circular.
Shrine to Venus Cloacina: Goddess in charge of the sewers.
Temple of Janus: Doors open during war, closed only once in Roman history.(because rome was ALWAYS at war) –picture on slides is of coins.
The Roman Arch
- Free-standing arch, not just for structure but for celebration.
- Used for victory parades, similar to the Arc de Triomphe.
- Very important symbol of Roman triumphs.
End of the republican period is marked by the ….
discovery of CONCRETE!
Serial or “Comic-Strip” Sculpture: Altar of Ahenobarbus
- A series of figures, like a “comic strip.”
- Often tells a story unfolding before you.
- Romans were very fond of this style.
- EX on SLIDE: Scene of taxation, where people paid with livestock instead of currency.
Innovation:
Serial sculptures were amazing for capturing action and storytelling in a visual, way.
Importance of Concrete
famous builds?
- Allowed Romans to build large, durable structures like the Colosseum and aqueducts.
- Made construction faster and more flexible, enabling complex designs like arches and domes.
- Key to Roman architectural success and expansion.
Veristic Sculpture
Depictions of affects of aging, the statues were more real looking than the Greek ones because they depicted not ideal bodies but realistic bodies – wrinkles, scars, etc…
EX. even depicted ones that looked to be having strokes (left side face droopy) – 2 brothers sat side by side
Veristic = “truthful”
Roman’s on Nudity
NOT comfortable with nudity
Emperor Claudius’ “photoshop” statue
- statue of emperor claudius depicts him with a body of a 20 year old, but with an “old man” head – since the statue was constructed when he was around 50.
Female Veristic Portraits/Sculptures
- no attempts made to make them gorgeous, but none with excessive wrinkles either
The Nodus
- women had to have their hair perfectly done up all the time
– upperclass always had perfect curls and presentations
the nodus was like a bun style
famous hairstyle worn by women
Hair on Statues
- some statues came with removable and interchangeable hair pieces, because the women knew the hairstyles would go in and out of style
- they wanted the hair to be appropriate for the time period of the viewer
Sarcophagus of Scipio Barbatus
Etruscan-style tomb of the Roman general.
Tells the ENTIRE career of the sculpted person, not just the name and age but an extensive biography on their life.
this 1 specifically features inscriptions abt his military and ancestry.
“A Tool That Can Speak”
Roman Slavery
True slave owning society.
People usually had abt 10 slaves
Roughly 35% of the roman population were slaves throughout roman history
purchasing slaves
Placards
strict obligations on slaves / their info
Everything about a specific slave; were they rude? ever wet the bed? behaviour problems/traits, had miscarriages.
if it wasnt written and something happened, the seller would be sued.
Slaves became Status Symbols
- Romans wanted fit, attractive slaves for specific roles: haircare, massage, or even social knowledge (like knowing everyone’s name and family).
- Slaves could also be forced to carry their masters on a cot.
Sources of Slaves
- As Rome conquered more areas, the supply of slaves diminished.
- Pirates started abducting and selling slaves, causing a scandal.
- Roman authorities ignored the issue.
**Manumission
- Freed slaves automatically gained Roman citizenship.
- Slaves could be rewarded with cash for exceptional service.
Melania - wealthy woman - freed all her slaves when she died
Suicide and Resistance
- Some slaves preferred suicide over enduring their harsh treatment.
- Deliberate killing of slaves was prohibited.
- resistance was rare, but some instances of resistance or rebellion occurred.
**Silanum Law
- If a slave killed their master, all slaves in the region would be tortured and executed no exceptions.
- The master’s will couldn’t be opened until all slaves were dead to prevent any from being freed.
Slave Uprisings
- Occurred in the late second century, when the slave population was growing.
- Both major uprisings took place in Sicily.
Why Sicily?
- Runaway slaves fled to the hills and formed groups to revolt.
- They were led by leaders like Eunus and Antiochus.
Spartacus Slave Revolt
led by spartacus
Started with 70 gladiators escaping from a training school in southern Italy.
Grew to 60,000–120,000 slaves in total.
defeated by crassus & pompey
