1. THE ROMAN EMPIRE
GARDNER CHAPTER 10-7 PP

2. DIOCLETIAN AND THE TETRARCHY
Emperor Diocletian (r ) -> in 293 he decides to share power w/ his rivals -> established the TETRARCHY rule by four
Divides the empire into eastern and western spheres -> results in the Latin West and Byzantine East in the Middle Ages

3. TETRARCHIC PORTRAITURE
Idealism, naturalism, individuality, and personality are now in the past
Portrait of the four tetrarchs, from Constantinople, 305 CE
Diocletian established the tetrarchy to bring order to the Roman world
Made of porphyry/purple marble -> four emperors depicted as identical partners in power, not as distinct individuals
Large cubical heads on squat bodies -> drapery is schematic, bodies are shapeless, faces are emotionless masks

4. PALACE OF DIOCLETIAN
Diocletian abdicates in 305 CE -> retires to Dalmatia -> builds a palace Split on the Croatian coast
Well-fortified suburban palace -> fortress walls, watch towers and gates
Two avenues intersect at the forum-like colonnaded courtyard leading to the emperor’s residential quarters

5. CONSTANTINE
Portrait of Constantine, from the Basilica Nova, Rome, Italy, ca , 8’6” high -> whole statue must have been over 30’ seated
Part of an enormous figure that sat as the focal point of the Basilica Nova in Rome
Parts of the body that show were done in marble -> lost now are the wooden elements that represented the torso, perhaps covered in bronze
Colossal size and seated pose likens him to Jupiter
Idealized portrait, timelessness -> image of eternal authority

6. FLASHCARD
Arch of Constantine, Rome, Italy, CE
Great triple passageway arch sited next to the Colosseum
Much of the sculptural decoration comes from monuments of Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius
Sculptors recut the heads of the earlier emperors with Constantine’s features
Reuse of sculptures = decline in creativity and technical skill in the waning years of the pagan Roman Empire
(2-additional) ARCH OF CONSTANTINE Late Roman Empire Rome, Italy C.E.

7. CONSTANTINIAN FRIEZE A decline in form?
Distribution of largesse, detail of the north frieze of the Arch of Constantine, Rome
Constantine is frontal and majestic on a throne as grateful recipients approach from left and right
Figures do not move according to any Classical principles of naturalistic movements -> mechanical and repeated stances and gestures of puppets
Not narrative action, but actors frozen in time -> rigid formality reflects new values
A decline in form?

8. COLOSSUS OF CONSTATINE

9. Constantine becomes emperor in 312 CE
Edict of Milan -> ends persecution of Christians
Constantinople -> city of Constantine founded at Byzantium
Council of Nicea 325 CE -> Christianity becomes the de facto official religion of the Roman Empire
Paganism declines rapidly
Transfer of power from Rome to Constantinople and the recognition of Christianity mark the end of antiquity and beginning of the Middle Ages

10. Restored cutaway view of the Basilica Nova, Rome. Italy, ca
Restored cutaway view of the Basilica Nova, Rome. Italy, ca CE
From the apse the seated colossus of Constantine dominated the interior of the basilica
Coffered barrel vaults in the aisles
Groin vaults over the nave
Fenestration of the concrete groin vaults provided lighting
BASILICA NOVA, ROME

11. AULA PALATINA, TRIER
Aula Palatina, Trier, Germany, early 4th century CE
Basilica like audience hall
Austere brick exterior is typical of later Roman architecture
Two stories of lead framed panes of glass take up most of the surface area

12. AULA PALATINA – INTERIOR
Flat, wooden, coffered ceiling
Interior has no aisles
Semicircular apse at one end
Interior is quite severe -> has close parallels in many early Christian churches
AULA PALATINA – INTERIOR