Are You Entertained? Imperial Architecture of Mass Diversion

I. Imperial mass entertainment structures The Colosseum (Flavian Amphitheater), Rome, Italy, AD (Imperial)

Emperor Vespasian builds the Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum) over Nero’s Golden House in A.D. 70 Flavian dynasty ( AD 69-96) Vespasian Titus79-81 Domitian81-96 I. Rome – theaters in the Campus Martius entertainment district

amphitheater (“theater on both sides”) I. A. Amphitheater basics1. What was an amphitheater compared to a theater? Colosseum (amphitheater) Theater of Marcellus, BC

I. A. 1. Amphitheater at Pompeii gladiatorial combat

I. A. 1. animal hunts Colosseum

I. A. 3. What were the essential features of an amphitheater? underground area for players, animals, stage sets arena seating (cavea) Colosseum

I. A. 3. awning (velarium)

I. A. 3. Why were amphitheaters elliptical rather than circular in plan? Colosseum

I. B. Social/political context 1. Why were entertainment structures so much larger / more numerous in imperial Rome than they were in republican Rome? the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions, everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses (Juvenal, Satire ) Imperial RomeRepublican Amphitheater at Pompeii, 70 BC

Colosseum I. B. 2. How was the design innovative in its approximation of a great imperial interior? a. canvas awning (velarium)

I. B. 2. b. slope of seating Imperial Republican vs. 37 o Amphitheater in Pompeii Colosseum

senators equestrian class citizens (plebs) common poor, slaves I. B. 3. How did the Colosseum mirror Roman social hierarchy and mobility? slaves, prisoners Colosseum

I. C. Architectural design of the Colosseum 1. How was the design conservative in structure, materials, and articulation? tufa masonry concrete masonry Colosseum Roman numeral I.C. is not on the exam in 2011.

framed-arch motif non-structural use of Greek orders I. C. 1. a. framed-arch motif travertine stone veneer Roman numeral I.C. is not on the exam in 2011.

I. C. 1. b. hierarchy of orders Doric order Ionic order Corinthian order Corinthian pilasters Hierarchy of orders Roman numeral I.C. is not on the exam in 2011.

II. Roman Baths from the late Republican to the Imperial era Baths of Diocletian, Rome, Italy, AD

Imperial Rome II. A. Socio-political context: Why did Roman emperors beginning with Nero build luxury baths for the use of the populace? Baths of Nero Baths of Titus

II. A. 2. What was the array of services that Roman baths offered in addition to bathing? Baths of Diocletian

II. B. Ritual: Attending to physical and psychological well-being 1. What was the typical ritual of physical revitalization at a Roman bath? Baths of Diocletian Remains of NE recess of the caldarium

II. B. Ritual: Attending to physical and psychological well-being 1. What was the typical ritual of physical revitalization at a Roman bath? frigidarium reconstruction Baths of Diocletian Remains of NE wall of the caldarium tepidarium frigidarium

II. B. 2. Technology: how were Roman bath facilities heated (hypocausts) and how did concrete structure facilitate this? Roman numeral II.B.2. is not on the exam in 2011.

II. C. Imperial design (the concrete vaulted style): The imperial bath buildings as imperial architecture Imperial Baths of Diocletian, AD Republic Forum Baths at Pompeii, 80 BC

II. C. 1. How did the design of baths that “educate” (enthrall, delight) the senses, according to MacDonald’s observations? frigidarium reconstruction Baths of Diocletian Groin vaults make possible thermal windows in the lunettes under the vaults.

II. C. 2. Where do continuous surfaces of vaults obscure create ambiguity of load and support? Baths of Diocletian tepidariumfrigidarium Greek orders enslaved to the concrete body (secondary system of decoration)

II. C. 3. How are the spaces combined in plan and how is that emblematic of Roman imperial spatial control? Baths of Diocletian caldariumtepidariumfrigidariumopen-air pool

Baths of DiocletianPennsylvania Station, New York, NY McKim, Mead, and White, 1910, demolished 1963 II. C. 4. In these immense imperial spaces, according to MacDonald, what choices did the individual Roman citizens have?

II. C. 4. Baths of DiocletianPennsylvania Station, New York, NY McKim, Mead, and White, 1910, demolished 1963 "Any city gets what it admires, will pay for, and, ultimately, deserves. Even when we had Penn Station, we couldn’t afford to keep it clean. We want and deserve tin-can architecture in a tinhorn culture. And we will probably be judged not by the monuments we build but by those we have destroyed."- "Farewell to Penn Station," New York Times editorial, October 30, 1963