THE ROMAN PERIOD

Vocabulary

Trompe l’oeil – “trick of the eye” or “fool the eye,” a two-dimensional artwork designed to make the viewer believe it is in three dimensions

Sarcophagi – Stone coffins used in Roman sculpture

Fresco – A painting on wet plaster; the image becomes part of the wall rather than being painted on it

Aqueduct - A pipe or channel designed to transport water from a remote source, usually by gravity

Early Roman History

Rome was once controlled by the Etruscans who conquered Italy

Once the Etruscans were driven out of Rome, the Romans established a republic True power rested with the people and not a

single branch of government Functioned much like a democracy

Rome gained wealth and power through military conquest

Roman History cont.

The republic failed due to civil war and Julius Caesar was elected dictator for life Caesar was assassinated shortly after taking

office Caesar’s most lasting achievement was the

Julian calendar This is the calendar we follow today

Caesar’s nephew Octavian replaced him and Octavian was given the name Augustus The name means the fortunate and the

blessed

Pax Romana (The Roman Peace)

Under the reign of Augustus Rome advanced Roads, bridges, and aqueducts were built A common currency was established Police and firefighters were employed

Some negative aspects to the Roman empire Religious persecution (particularly Christians) Outlying provinces were inclined to revolt

Law

Rome developed a legal system that was based on knowledge of the laws

This allowed the legal system to be more generalized and fair

Stoicism

Stoicism became popular in Rome Philosophy dealing with supreme intelligence Acceptance of fate and duty Kinship of all people through intellect

Stoicism also gave birth to the concept of providing justice for everyone

Stoicism’s emphasis on inquiry brought on difficult times under Emperor Nero who tried to eliminate free thinking

Neo-Platonism

An incorporation of the teachings of Plato with ideas related to Stoicism and Epicureanism

Developed by Plotinus Neo-Platonism dealt with the nature of

beauty and art Beauty reflects a unified universe where

individual beauty reflects a universal harmony Art then forms a bridge between beauty

and the natural world

Mystery Cults

The Romans were polytheistic Roman gods were often the same as the

Greek gods but with Roman names (i.e. Jupiter/Zeus)

Romans observed strict rituals The constant repetition of rituals was the key

to prosperity

Classicism

Romans amplified the notions of Classicism that were developed by the Greeks

Roman art and architecture reflected the ideas of clarity, harmony, and intellect In some cases the Romans simply copied the

Greeks Other times, the Romans would add a slight

twist

Utilitarianism and Pragmatism

Rome sought a government that provided the greatest good for the greatest amount of people Utilitarianism relies on what has the most

social value in a society Romans also discouraged existential

ideas and speculation in favor of practical usage Pragmatism focuses on the usefulness of an

idea or object

Painting

Most of what survives of Roman painting lies in fresco The images are actually part of the wall,

rather than decorations on them Frescos employed bright colors Roman frescos usually depict a

panoramic landscape and utilize a trompe l’oeil “Trick of the eye” that creates the illusion of

three dimensions

Painting cont.

Most of the surviving frescos come from the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum

These frescos also demonstrate the technical virtuosity that was associated with Hellenistic Greece

Fresco

Frescos demonstrate a strong use of color

Images are also depicted within a closed “frame”

Sculpture

Portrait sculptures were used to honor family members, successful politicians, and military heroes

A much more lifelike sculpture than any that have come before it

Sculpture cont.

The classical Greek notion of the idealized form grew in Roman sculpture

This translated into sculptures of emperors with superhuman physical qualities This most likely comes as

a result of an elevated level of status for the emperor.

Trajan’s Column

128 feet tall column decorated with relief sculptures

A spiral staircase inside the column leads to the highest spot where a statue of Trajan once stood

The relief sculptures make their way up the column in a spiral pattern

The sculpture relies on symbolism (wavy lines for water, jagged lines for mountains, etc.) to tell the many accomplishments of Trajan

Trajan’s Column

Sculpture cont.

Romans decorated their sarcophagi with relief sculptures as well

Depending on where the sarcophagus was built, the decorations would change Athens – decorated on all four sides with

scenes from Greek mythology Asia Minor – figures carved around

architectural details Rome – carved on three sides with one

mythological scene and a blank side to sit against a wall

Architecture

Similar to the Greek classical style, the Romans relied on structures like the post-and-lintel system

Romans used engaged columns Columns that were part of a wall as opposed

to the freestanding Greek columns The most identifiable feature of Roman

architecture is the arch

The Colosseum

The Colosseum is the most famous of all Roman structures

Held gladiatorial matches and other sporting events

Featured awnings to shade the audience and an elaborate space below the arena to house athletes, animals, and machines to raise and lower scenery

Architecture

Romans were also known for their triumphal arches Large archways

with relief sculptures meant to honor military conquest

This arch pays homage to Titus and his conquest of Jerusalem

Architecture

Roman aqueducts were also prominent structures

These were used to transport water over long distances

Theatre Romans loved to be

entertained Their primary sources of

entertainment came from comedies and blood sport

Comedies typically contained slapstick humor and lewd acts on stage In keeping with Roman

pragmatism, comedies served the vital purpose of keeping people’s minds off of their problems

Blood sport consisted of the violent gladiatorial matches and animal fights

Music

Romans enjoyed music Music festivals, competitions, and

virtuoso performances were held regularly

Some emperors funded musicians and music teachers were well paid

The hydraulos (water organ) was used to provide background music to the events at the Colosseum Some reports suggest that the

hydraulos could be heard from over a mile away

The Romans also invented the brass trumpet for military use

Dance

Romans developed a style of dance known as pantomime (using gestures and body movements without words)

Dancers would convey several kinds of emotions through their gestures and movements Would also involve costume changes and background

music Pantomime was highly interpretive and usually

involved tragic themes Some pantomimes were also very sexual in nature

and bordered on the pornographic (I bet they danced like you guys do)

Literature

Literature wasn’t very common throughout the Roman period.

Poets wrote in Latin which was the language of the Greek slaves

Any existing literature focuses on the glory of Rome and its emperors