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The spiraling frieze of The Column of Trajan prominently displays the military expertise of Trajan by depicting the Roman campaigns in Dacia; however, this is only one aspect of Trajan’s Column and of the emperor’s reign. The column’s location within Trajan’s Forum complex, its eventual use as the emperor’s tomb, the columns built in honor of Antoninous Pius and Marcus Aurelius, and even many details within the frieze itself show that Trajan was viewed as more than a great military commander. An interpretation of the column of as only honoring Trajan’s military abilities falls much too short of the man who was granted the title of “optimus princeps,” or best emperor. That title meant extended to all aspects of his rule, meaning that not just his military experience were viewed as exemplary but his civic duties as well. The Column of Trajan was used not as a simple monument to Trajan’s victories over the Dacians but as a testimonial to his status as optimus princeps.
The scenes along the column are of an undeniably military nature. Even the three sides of the pedestal not used for the inscription depict captured Dacian arms, underscoring the fact the column was built to commemorate the Roman victory over the Dacians. It is then important to note that most of these scenes are not actually battle scenes; in fact, three quarters of the scenes deal with the everyday function of the army. An important theory found in the Richmond article is that the prevalence of the more mundane scenes of army life make the few scenes of battle and the subsequent Roman victories even more noteworthy in comparison. Richmond’s idea is that the multitude of everyday scenes lead up to the battle scenes, which shows how the mundane activities of the army ...
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...se Trajan’s Markets is reinforced in Davies’ work. She states that one of the functions of Trajan’s Column was to act as a belvedere, which would have overlooked the markets. After ascending the staircase, anyone who reached the top of the column would be met with a view of the Quirinal, where the hill which was partially cut away to allow Trajan’s Markets to be built. All of these facts lead to the conclusion that Trajan’s Column was a symbol for the emperor’s entire building project. The process of viewing the column, either consciously or not, makes it clear to the viewer Trajan undertook a huge construction project for the benefit of Rome; those who climbed the column were met with a view of the entire forum complex. This emphasis on the emperor’s civic services to Rome, confirms the idea that Trajan’s Column was meant to be read as more than a victory monument.
The Edict of Milan was proclaimed by the Roman Emperor Constantine after he defeated the Emperor Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge. After Constantine’s victory over Maxentius, the Roman senate celebrated by creating an arch at the base of the Palatine, known as the Arch of Constantine. It marvels with the old construction structures of free-standing columns, consisting of the carved reliefs of victories, trophies, and a triple gateway. The Arch of Constantine has circular reliefs representing the sun and moon on the east and west ends. On the keystones of the arches, there were carvings of the river and other gods. A very significant and astonishing aspect of this arch is the historical pattern, called the frieze, that was carved on the sides of the arch representing the ethic and style of architecture of that time period.
Why was Trajan considered to be one of the five good emperors of the Roman Empire? Trajan was a visionary leader as well as an ethical leader. First I will tell you how Trajans actions during the Dacian Wars proved that he was an inspirational leader for his soldiers. Next I will tell you how Trajan, by the domestic policies he instituted as the Roman Emperor, proved to be an ethical leader. Last I will tell you about the personal relevance this has to me. More specifically I will tell you about my actions as a leader when I moved to Holloman Air Force Base. Now that I gave you an overview of what I want to talk about let’s get to my first main point.
...m. This huge circular arena was the pinnacle of the Roman Gladiatorial games, and though it isn't fully intact, it is a great reminder of ancient culture. Though today these games seem inhumane and unnecessary, to their ancient culture it was a vacation from everyday stress. Even the Emperor was said to understand that though money and grain would satisfy and individual, large spectacles were necessary for the contentment of the masses' (wes civ).
The four sides of the Monument offer scenes depicting Confederate Soldiers in a variety of situations. They are seen answering the call from Minerva, the Goddess of War and Wisdom; depicted as attempting to hold up a women symbolized as the Mother of the South. The Confederate Soldiers are shown as they depart for war, from the young man leaving his sweetheart, to the father leaving his babe in the arms of his African-American nurse. This particular scene is important in understanding one of, if not the primary reason for the Monument’s creation as claimed by opponents of the Confederate Monument and the
In the early first century AD, the Roman Empire was subject to autocratic rule and the old Republic was long dead. Augustus had been ruling for forty years and most of that time he was loved and praised by the Senate and the people of Rome. Throughout his reign, Augustus had the one lingering problem of finding a successor to take over the role of Emperor. He had chosen 3 different heirs in his time of rule; however, they all passed before they had the chance to inherit Augustus’ esteemed power. His fourth choice, Tiberius, was the one to succeed Augustus. He was often referred to, by Augustus, as an outstanding general and the only one capable of defending Rome against her enemies. The statement, ‘Tiberius is condemned by many ancient historians (including Tacitus), and his reign is often portrayed as being detrimental to the welfare of the Roman Empire’ is invalid as he treated the senate fairly, created strong economics and security in the state and boosted the empire into an unprecedented state of prosperity. This hypothesis will be proven through this essay by analyzing factors such as Tiberius’ administration of the Empire, his relationship with the senate, his financial control, the effect of Sejanus over his rule and why were his last years as Emperor referred to as a ‘reign of terror’ by Tacitus.
...trix, the complex’s plan, and foreign works of art. While Pompey imbued his own personal accomplishments within his theatre complex, Caesar included that and more. By asserting his divine lineage through his temple to Venus Genetrix, statuary and orientation of the complex he raised himself so far above the general Roman public that he may have been despised by some, but revered by many. Caesar expanded upon the political propaganda methods of Pompey to extreme heights to help solidify his position as dictator perpetuo, and increased agency in political propaganda for future rulers, such as his son Augustus. Caesar and Pompey before him marked a transition in Roman public architecture where generals and leaders of Rome began to utilize building plans to communicate their greatness, and effectively go against Roman propriety to shape the architectural taste of Rome.
Scott Hightower’s poem “Father” could be very confusing to interpret. Throughout almost the entirety of the poem the speaker tries to define who his father is by comparing him to various things. As the poem begins the reader is provided with the information that the father “was” all of these things this things that he is being compared to. The constant use of the word “was” gets the reader to think ‘how come the speaker’s father is no longer comparable to these things?’ After the speaker reveals that his father is no longer around, he describes how his father impacted him. Details about the father as well as descriptions of the impacts the father has distraught on the speaker are all presented in metaphors. The repetitive pattern concerning the speaker’s father and the constant use of metaphors gives the reader a sense that the speaker possesses an obsessive trait. As the reader tries to interpret the seemingly endless amount of metaphors, sets of connotative image banks begin to develop in the reader’s mind. Major concepts that are expressed throughout the poem are ideas about what the speaker’s father was like, what he meant to the speaker, and how he influenced the speaker.
The Colosseum is an important part of ancient Roman history. The amphitheater is a symbol of Roman culture. The Colosseum displayed the violence of Roman culture. This incredibly unique amphitheater dominated the city of Rome. It was one of the most innovative and complex structures during that time period. The vastness of this impressive building displayed the wealth and power of the Roman Empire to other empires and enemies of the Romans. The Colosseum was created for public entertainment purposes. Gladiator fights with prisoners of war and slaves, wild animal hunts, professional fights, and public executions all took place at the Colosseum. Sea battles, rarely performed at the Colosseum, involved flooding the arena with water and releasing sharks for gladiators to fight. The excitement and thrill of each event kept spectators coming back.
The primary function of monumental portraits in Ancient Rome was to honor political figures of power through repeating social and political themes. The Romans expressed these themes through a form of “realism”. Relics of this era were found depicting the elderly conservative nobility that lived through civil disruptions and war, elaborately individualized through detail of the face expression. Through the features of grimacing heaviness, wrinkles, and effects of old age, the Romans were able to express the reality of their political situation felt by the people whose faces were sculptured into stone. Furthermore, Nodelman discusses the use of sculpture portraits to depict the ideology behind Roman conservative aristocracy. Artists would portray the virtues of gravitas, dignities, and fides, through the use to physical expression and symbolic meaning, rather than through words. A statue of Augustus, for instance, displays the militaristic, powerful, godly perception of the conservative ideology through the use of symbolic detail. The decorative, rich, military outfit on Augustus, represents the power of the military and Augustus’s role as imperator in it. The freely held masculine arm and pointing gesture towards the horizon are Rome’s expanding dreams, clashing with the overall powerful and sturdy stance of the body. The bare feet bring about the impression
The military system of Rome was once viewed as a fierce and influential force. The late Roman army was much different. It was a ...
The statue Augustus of Primaporta was not only used to convey the likeness of the Emperor Augustus to his people across the Roman Empire, it was also interspersed with symbols and messages about the ruler’s ideals and power. It was distributed throughout the empire as propaganda for Augustus and as a declaration of the new era he intended to bring about. This strategic imagery and its successfulness in conveying the greatness of its commissioner influenced many successive leaders around the world to command similarly symbolic likenesses to be made of themselves, such as Trajan in the second century CE.
During the Great Depression, while the competitors were cutting costs and reusing outdated designs, Kress was expanding and building more elaborate stores than their previous ones. The architecture was referred to as an “emporium” evoking an elegant atmosphere more suited to a fine cloth or furniture store in New York rather than the five & dime stores dotting small town America. Many wonder what the driving force was behind these design decisions, especially during a national time of economic recession. Perhaps simply to outpace the competition, but perhaps more importantly Samuel Kress was an avid art collector and a proponent of public art enhancing a community. In this way the Kress legacy of the brand became more than a retail business, it became a symbol of small town civic pride.
The Ara Pacis (“Altar of Augustan Peace” in Latin) is one of the most representative works of Augustan art. The monument was dedicated on 4 July 13 B.C to honor the return of Augustus after three years in Spain and Gaul, which were his last military operations, and commemorate military victories. The altar was an impressive example of the culture of Rome in general and illustration of prosperous Rome. The monument is a visual medium to represent that peace is the result of military victories and his proconsular power on the land and sea. Karl Galinsky, a Professor of Classics at the University of Texas at Austin says that the Ara Pacis is linked with the concept that pace is the result of military victories. According to him, Augustus mentioned the importance of the Ara Pacis in Res Gestae by saying, “On my return from Spain and Gaul in the consulship of Tiberius Nero and Publius Quintilius, after I had successfully arranged affairs in those provinces, the senate decreed that an altar of the Augustan Peace should be consecrated next to the Campus Martius in honor of my return, and ordered that the magistrates and priests and the Vestal Virgins perform an annual sacrifice there” (Karl Galinsky, 1996). He avoided building an altar in the senate chamber to honor his return. Instead, he ordered to build an altar to Pax Agusta in which one mile away from the sacred boundary of the city. It means that the altar was meant not only to be a monument of military achievement, but also a vision of the Roman religion. This research aims on function, structure of the altar, and reliefs on each side of the precinct wall.
The differences between the art of Roman and other civilizations were that every Roman arts whether were sculptures or architectures had served some purposes and played certain roles in the daily lives of Roman citizens. For example, Romans love to build small concrete building with the vaulting systems. The small building which was called the bay (Pg. 105). This unique system helps to construct much fine and greatest architecture for Romans such as the Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia, the Colosseum and the Basilica of Constantine. The Pantheon of Rome was also another striking example of fine Roman structure. These structures were often used for religion matters, public meetings and entertainment for every Roman citizen. If any Roman citizens wanted to have some fun, they would attend the Colosseum and watched the gladiatorial game or a series of chariot race. If some other citizens wanted to seek God or certain deity, they would likely to go to the Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia. In fact, architectures were significant in the lives of Roman citizens.
...ortant such as the development of the economy. In addition to the respect given to Trajan there was a level of respect that was owed to the Roman government and its own members of society as well. With these standards employed, it ensured that the people of Rome would realize that they were representing the city in which they lived.