The Rising Power Of Rome: Origin Of Rome

 Under rule of Etruscan kings, Rome grew in size and importance.
 By end of 6th Century, Rome was the richest and largest city in Italy.
 Romans wanted independence, so in 509 B.C. drove out Etruscans and established republic.
The Rising Power of Rome :

 Most of the roman art was copied from the Greeks
 It can be said that the Romans became the heirs of Greek art although they also made important contributions of their own, especially in the development of architecture.
The Roman Republic :
 Surrounded by enemies, Romans forced to fight for survival.
 As Rome defended itself, increased republic size to encompass all of Italy.
 After defeating their chief rival Carthage, Rome gained Sicily and became an powerful empire.
 At its height of power, Rome controlled lands from Britain to the Mesopotamia.
Greek Influence :
 Much of Roman art was copied from the Greeks.
 From early on, affluent Romans admired all types of Greek art.
 Large amounts of Greek art was brought to Rome, including some Greek artists.
 Romans considered heirs of Greek art, though they made their own contributions, especially in architecture.

Roman Sculpture and Painting:
 In sculpture and painting, Roman artwork heavily reflects earlier influence of Greek artists.
 Since Rome’s beginning, lifelike sculptures have been heavily desired.
 At the time, wax masks were used during funerals and to honor the dead.
 However, a more durable building material was needed, as wax did not last long.
 So, marble and stone became widely used, and artists who worked with these became highly valued.
Portrait Sculpture :
 Lifelike portrait sculptures can be traced back to the earliest period of Rome’s history.
 Wax masks of deceased family members were made to be carried in funeral processions.

Man of the Republic
 Roman portraits create a feeling of looking at a real person, perhaps someone that
may even look familiar.
 All Roman portrait sculptures depict real people.
 These sculpture use wrinkles and imperfections to express the character of
the subject.
Differences Between Greek and Roman Sculpture :
 Many Roman sculptors came from Greece.
 These artists worked in the altered traditional Greek style to fit Roman standards.
 Greeks preferred idealistic portraits, where Romans preferred realistic portraits.
 Romans wanted realism because most of their portraits were intended for private display.
Mural Paintings:

 Many of the mural paintings painted within homes, were of landscapes and
pictures of buildings that suggested a world that lay beyond the walls of the room.
Subjects of Mural Paintings :
 Mural- A large painted directly on the wall

Paintings of outdoor areas recreated onto the wall as if it was really there landscapes- a painting, photograph, or other works of art that shows natural scenery)
Pictures of buildings
Paintings of people doing actions ~maiden gathering flowers Mural Paintings
Roman Architecture
 Many examples of Roman architecture still survive today, unlike their paintings and sculptures.
 The Romans designed and built many things to link and glorify their vast empire:
◼ Roads
◼ Harbors (seaports, ships discharged for Cargo)
◼ Aqueducts (The Romans constructed aqueducts throughout their Republic and later Empire, to bring water from outside sources into cities and towns)
◼ Sewer Systems
◼ Buildings for leisure and business
 Romans wanted to become first great builders of the world. Architecture
 Temples
◼ Were used by Romans to satisfy their own needs and tastes
 Maison Carree: Nimes, France
◼ Columns do not surround the structure, instead only used for the Portico: a structure consisting of a roof supported by columns or piers, usually attached to a building as a porch.
◼ Along the sides and back half-columns are attached to create a decorative pattern

Architecture :
 Temple complex in Palestrina.
◼ The route to this temple is called the Appian Way and is lined with the grand villas and tombs of wealthy Roman citizens.
◼ The temple became home of the famous oracle (Fortuna- the goddess of good fortune).

Design of the Temple Complex :

 The Temple of Fortuna Primigenia was part of a large complex which had arches, terraces,
and more.
 Arches were used to span openings, and barrel vaults to roof large spaces.
◼ Barrel Vault- A series of round arches from front to back that form a tunnel.
 However, because of the weight of the ceilings, the walls remained windowless. Roman Aqueducts
◼ Aqueduct- A system that carried water from mountain streams into cities by using gravitational flow.
 These were designed for efficient transportation of water, using a series of arches, and also
happened to be attractive.
 Constructed of granite blocks laid without mortar (a mixture of sand, water, and cement ), its sharp angles broke the force of the water.
 Eleven were built in Rome, and could range from 10-60 miles in length.
◼ Carried around 270 million gallons of water a day.

Innovations Architecture :
 Baths- vast enclosed structures that
contained libraries, lecture rooms, gymnasiums, shops, restaurants, and pleasant walkways
 Keystone- top stone of the arch. Innovations in Structure
 The round arch improved on the structurally weaker post and lintel system.
 The lintel, if made of stone and expanded over a large space would break.
 An arch is made of cut bricks or stones held together by a keystone.
◼ Keystone- Top stone of an arch.
 However, a large arch would tend to collapse on itself, so smaller series of arches were instead.
Roman Buildings and Monuments :
 Roman Emperors constantly buildings and rebuilding the cities of their empire.
◼ Emperor Augustus- Claimed he found Rome a city of brick and stone and left it a city of
marble.
 As often as possible, bath, amphitheaters, and other monuments were built for the
enjoyment of the public.
 Emperors did this to maintain their popularity.
Design of the Baths
 Every large Roman city contained baths.
 Each contained similar features, included
series of progressively cooler pools of
water:
◼ The Calidarium- First and contained hot water
◼ The Tepidarium- Second and was a warm bath
◼ The Frigidarium- Last and had cool water
 These different rooms were maintained by slave tended furnaces underneath the
building.

The Baths of Caracalla :

 Built in the 3rd Century A.D. by emperor Caracalla, it is one of the most famous baths ever.
 Its sprawled over 30 acres, with a massive bathhouse and a central hall that was 180
feet long and 77 feet wide.
 This hall was spanned by concrete groin vaults.
◼ Groin Vault- A vault that is formed when two
barrel vaults meet right angles.
 The use of the groin vaults allowed for
buildings to cover larger areas and windows
to be placed in the now unencumbered
walls.
Innovations Architecture :
 Groin vault- two barrel vaults meet at
right angles
 Barrel Vault- a series of round arches
from front to back that form a tunnel
The Baths of Caracalla :
 One of the most famous baths
◼ 30 acres and had a bathhouse that measured 750 feet by 380 feet.
 A huge central hall over 180 feet long and 77 feet wide was spanned with concrete groin vaults.
The Colosseum (a large Theatre, Cinema, or Stadium)

 Large arena, Covers 6 acres and forms a complete oval 615 feet by 510 feet.
 Over the centuries people carried off large masses of the stone to create new buildings until Pope Benedict XIV put a stop to it
Buildings for Sports Events :
 Chariot races were by far Romans favorite spectator sport.
 Up to 150,000 Romans would gather at Circus Maximus to witness sporting events.
 Eventually, 64 days of the year were devoted to chariot races.
The Colosseum’s interior
 80 arched openings enabled spectators to enter and leave
 The “Door of Life” was reserved for victorious gladiators and the slain gladiators were carried through the “Door of Death”
Greek Influences on the Colosseum
 Exterior- four stories, constructed of stone, brick, and concrete
 Top level- Corinthian pilasters (Flat, rectangular columns attached to a wall)
 Between pilasters; small holes
 Holes places in holes to support canvassing that protect spectators rain or shine

The Colosseum

 Chariot races, armed contests, gladiator contests
◼ 5,000 gladiators fought to death and 11,000 animals were killed in a day!!
Innovations in Material: Concrete
 The building material that was first used by the Romans and allowed for stability
and strength in large buildings
 With the advent of concrete, the Romans had a versatile material that was used in the Temple of Fortuna Primigenia.
 Rome was first civilization to use concrete to its best capacity.
 Concrete and the arch allowed Romans to build on a much larger scale.
Public Buildings and Structures
The Pantheon :
◼ Designed as a temple to all the roman
gods

Illuminating the Pantheon’s Interior :
 Though there are no interior windows, the Pantheon is still well light.
 A 30 foot round opening in the dome provides the only source of light.
 The light is sharp and bright, and also allows for the sky to be seen.
 A raised floor and drainage system are used to combat any rainfall.
 Oculus: Latin for “eye”/ opening in the ceiling of the pantheon
 Niches

recesses in the wall
 Coffers: Indented panels

Public Buildings and Structures
 Basilicas
◼ Spacious rectangular building
◼ Designed as a court of law and public meeting hall
◼ Served as models for generations of Christian church builders Plan of Basilicas=
 Inside, rows of slender columns divided the space into a nave and two narrower sides.
◼ Nave- A long, wide center aisle.
 Had a higher roof at the center and therefore could add windows.
 Had a side entrance, wooden roofs, and one area called an apse.
◼ Apse- Semicircular area at the end of the nave.
◼ Transept- an aisle that cuts directly across the nave and the side isles in a basilica and forms a cross shaped floor plan Basilica church
Public Buildings and Structures :

 Triumphal Arches: heavily decorated arch
 After an important victory the general and his troops would pass under the arch
 The Arch of Constantine was the largest and most elaborate of the arches
The Arch of Constantine :

 Largest and most elaborate Triumphal Arch.
 Decorated with sculptures from other monuments of earlier emperors.
 As the monument was dedicated to Constantine, the transferred images had to be altered to resemble Constantine.

Declining Power :

The Declining Power of Rome ;
 Rome’s power began to decline when the capital was shifted to the city of Byzantium, in the Eastern Roman Empire.
 In 330 A.D., the emperor Constantine I renamed the city Constantinople, and this marked the beginning of the Byzantine Empire.
 The Western Roman Empire continued to decline, and in 410 A.D., Rome was conquered by the Visigoths.
 The Western Roman Empire had ceased to exist by the 5th Century A.D.