Roman Art and Culture By the end of the 6th century B.C., Rome had become the largest and richest city in all of Italy Many city-states developing over centuries just like in ancient Greece Much of Roman art was influenced by or even copied from Greek art forms

Roman Sculpture and Painting Greeks preferred idealistic portraits; Romans wanted theirs more realistic and lifelike Greek art was more public, (monuments, temples, etc.) Roman art was more private dedicated to individuals A reminder or celebration of people (deceased, e.g.) lifelike A Roman portrait sculpture creates feeling that viewer is looking at real person VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM2D7iJHWXQ

Mural Painting Wealthy Roman families lived in luxurious homes with courtyards, gardens with fountains, mosaics, busts, etc. Did not hang paintings, hired artists to paint murals

Mosaics Mosaic images made of small pieces of coloured glass or stone Floors, but then walls and even ceilings decorated Depicted legendary scenes from real and mythic stories

More Mosaics

Roman Architecture Few Roman paintings and murals survive, but many examples of Roman architecture survive Romans built many roads, harbours, cities, temples, monuments, aqueducts, etc.

Temples Again, much Greek influence Columns are often decorative and not structurally needed

Innovations in Structure and Materials Barrel vault ~ A series of round arches from front to back that form a tunnel

Innovations cont… Round Arch ~ A wall or another arch is needed to counter the outward force of the arch.

Innovations cont… Keystone ~ the top stone of the arch holds other stones in place.

Aqueducts Aqueducts demonstrate the Romans’ ability to combine engineering skills with a knowledge of architectural form. Aqueduct: a system that carried water from mountain streams into cities by using gravitational flow

The Roman Baths Roman monuments and public buildings were numerous and impressive Most popular were the baths Made possible by aqueducts Much more than a pool: Vast enclosed structures that contained libraries, lecture rooms, gyms, shops, restaurants, walkways and – of course - baths

Baths cont… Every large Roman city had its bath All contained a series of pools of progressively cooler water (furnace heat) Start from hot (tepidarium) to cold (frigidarium) Bath of Caracalla Rome, Italy

Baths

Ampitheatres Q. What for? A. panem et circenses or “bread and circuses” • Chariot races • Public executions • Gladiatorial fighting • Mock naval battles These events were held in large arenas Called ampitheatres (most famous: Colosseum) Built approx. 60 A.D. Covers 6 acres Over centuries, looting destroyed much of the original

Colosseum cont… 80 archways at ground level all around 76 for public One of the other four for emperor, one for priestesses, one for victorious gladiators (Door of Life), the last for dead gladiators (Door of Death)

What it probably looked like 1900 years ago What it looked like 300 years ago

Pantheon One of the marvels of Roman architecture is the Pantheon Temple dedicated to all Roman gods, later converted to a Christian church Height and width of exactly 144’

Arches Romans loved celebrations and often marked victories and successes with a monument “Triumphal arches” Heavily decorated arches One of the largest and most famous: Arch of Constantine

Key Roman Cultural Characteristics Admirers of Greek culture Adopted many aspects of it, then made unique Mythological stories, philosophy, etc. Art (a little) more private, (a little) less public than that of Greece Great engineers and innovators Aqueducts, arches, ampitheatres, roads, baths, etc. Art (a little) less idealized, (a little) more realistic than that of Greece