Roman Imperial Art:Architecture

Reading:Stokstad, 168-177

Range:200 BCE-400 CERoman Republican, Roman Imperial

Terms/Concepts:axial, aqueduct, arch, arcade, vault, keystone, barrel vault, groin vault, voussoirs, spandrels, engaged column, doric, ionic, corinthian, acanthus, basilica, calderium, frigidarium, tepidarium, bread and circuses, palestra.

Key Monuments: Temple, perhaps dedicated to

Portunus. Roman Republic, Late second century BCE.

Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Imperial Roman, Late first century BCE.

Flavian Amphitheater (the Coliseum). Imperial Roman, 70-80 CE.

Apollodorus of Damascus. Forum of Trajan, Imperial Roman, c. 112 CE.

Baths of Caracalla, Rome, Imperial Roman, c.211 CE.

★Rome is known fundamentally as an urban civilization

Model of the City of Imperial Rome

Mosaic of the Goddess Roma, 1st-2nd Century CE

Temple (perhaps dedicated to Portunus) In the Cattle Market, Rome. Late second century BCE.

Seen from rear.

Temple (perhaps dedicated to Portunus) In the Cattle Market, Rome. Late second century BCE.

Temple (perhaps dedicated to Portunus) In the Cattle Market, Rome. Late second century BCE.

Reconstruction of an Etruscan temple, according to description by Vitruvius.

Iktinos and Kallikrates. The Parthenon (seen from northwest). Athens, Greece. 447-438 BCE.

Reconstruction of an Etruscan temple, according to description by Vitruvius.

Iktinos and Kallikrates. The Parthenon Athens, Greece, 447-438 BCE.

Temple, perhaps dedicated to Portunus, In the Cattle Market, Rome. Late 2nd century BCE

Nîmes

Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Late first century BCE.

• Aqueduct: An artificial channel for transporting water from a distant source

• Aqueduct: An artificial channel for transporting water from a distant source

Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Late first century BCE.

Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Late first century BCE.

Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Late first century BCE.

• Voussoir: A wedge-shaped block used in the construction of an arch

• The central voussoir is the keystone

The distribution of weight on an arcade.

Flavian Ampitheater 72-80 CE

Titus 79-80 CEVespasian 69-79 CE

Doric

Ionic

Corinthian

Flavian Amphitheater (Coliseum), Rome, 72-80 BCE.

Engaged columns

★Engaged columns only give the impression of support. The arcades could support themselves.

Groin Vault

Flavian Amphitheater (Coliseum), Interior Vaults, Rome, 72-80 BCE.

Diagram of an arch Diagram of a barrel vault

Vaults supported the seats and substructure of the Coliseum.

Diagram of a barrel vault Diagram of a groin vault

Groin vaults are two crossed barrel vaults.

Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum) Reconstruction, Rome, 72-80 BCE.

Inaugural festivities by Emperor Titus: 100 days, in which 9,000 animals and 2,000 gladiators were killed.

Flavian Amphitheater (Coliseum), Rome, 72-80 BCE.

Flavian Amphitheater (Coliseum), Rome, 72-80 BCE.

Gladiatorial Entertainments, “Zliten Mosaic”, Dar Buc Ammera Villa, Zliten, Libya, c. before 80 CE

Gladiatorial Entertainments, “Zliten Mosaic”, Dar Buc Ammera Villa, Zliten, Libya, c. before 80 CE

Musicians and Costumed Performers

Gladiatorial Entertainments, “Zliten Mosaic”, Dar Buc Ammera Villa, Zliten, Libya, c. before 80 CE

Gladiator vs. Gladiator

Gladiatorial Entertainments, “Zliten Mosaic”, Dar Buc Ammera Villa, Zliten, Libya, c. before 80 CE

Gladiator vs. Beast

Gladiatorial Entertainments, “Zliten Mosaic”, Dar Buc Ammera Villa, Zliten, Libya, c. before 80 CE

Beast vs. Beast

Flavian Amphitheater (Coliseum), Rome, 72-80 BCE.

★ 80 exits to accommodate 50,000 spectators

Forum of Trajan

Trajan 98-117 CE

Dacia

Rome

Forum of Trajan

Apollodorus of Damascus. Forum of Trajan, (reconstruction), Dedicated in 112 CE.

Temple to the Divine Trajan

Column of Trajan

Libr

arie

s

Basi

lica

Ulp

ia

M a r k e t s

Longitudinal Axis

Apollodorus of Damascus, Forum of Trajan (Model), c. 117 CE.

Apollodorus of Damascus, Entrance to the Basilica Ulpia, Forum of Trajan, c. 117 CE.

Apollodorus of Damascus, Basilica Ulpia, Forum of Trajan, c. 117 CE.

Apollodorus of Damascus, Markets, Forum of Trajan, c. 117 CE.

*Merchants’ Stalls

*Taverns/Food Stalls

*Communal Space

The Pantheon

Hadrian 117-138 CE

The Pantheon

Pantheon

★ Temple dedicated to all the gods (pan=all and theion=gods)

pediment

porch

dome

cylindrical drum

The Pantheon, Rome, c. 118-125 CE.

Temple, perhaps dedicated to Portunus. In the Cattle Market, Rome. Late second century BCE.

The Pantheon, Rome, c. 118-125 CE.

Oculus

Coffer

The Pantheon, Rome, c. 118-125 CE.

★ 143 feet

★60 feet

★ 20 feet

The Pantheon, Interior, Rome, c. 118-125 CE.

★Niches once held the statues of gods, but were replaced by saints in 609 by Pope Boniface IV.

The Baths of Caracalla

Caracalla c. 211-217 CE

The Baths of Caracalla

The Baths of Caracalla, Rome, c. 211 CE

The Baths of Caracalla, Rome, c. 211 CE

The Baths of Caracalla, Rome, c. 211 CE

Calderium, The Baths of Caracalla, Rome, c. 211 CE

The Baths of Caracalla, Rome, c. 211 CE

Mosaics, The Baths of Caracalla, Rome, c. 211 CE

Critical Thinking Questions

1. What is the importance of construction to Roman emperorship and empire-building?

2. What were some of the major structural and material innovations of Roman engineers?

3. What are some key differences between Roman temples and Greek temples?

4. What does the term “bread and circuses” mean? How does this connect to architecture?