1. Rome’s Investment in its Empire
Watch the following video clip involving a Jewish group plotting rebellion against Roman rule.
Note down what the Romans did for the provinces.
Video is ‘Life of Brian’ Clip
Watch Video Now

2. MAISON CARREE

3. MAISON CARREE Date: 18-16BC Means: ‘Square House’ in French
Location: Nimes, South of France
Length: 31.8m
Width: 15m
Materials: Limestone
Who was it built by? Marcus Agrippa (Augustus’ son-in-law)
Inscription:
Where? On the entablature
Dedication?: To Augustus’ grandsons - Gaius and Lucius (adopted sons of Augustus)
Interesting fact:
The temple owes its preservation to the fact that it was rededicated as a Christian church in the fourth century, saving it from the widespread destruction of temples that followed the adoption of Christianity as Rome's official state religion.
MAISON CARREE

4. Where is Nimes?

5. Roman Nemausus

6. Nemausus
Forum

7. Nimes Today

8. PLAN VIEW Cella Pseudo-peripteral colonnade Deep porch
Hexastyle colonnade

9. EXTERIOR FEATURES Pediment Entablature Frieze Engaged Columns
Corinthian Capitals
Podium / Stylobate
Fluted Columns

10. Exterior Rear

11. Greek and Roman Influences
Large flight of stairs to high podium - Roman feature.
Corinthian Columns - Greek feature
Hexastyle porch – Greek Feature
Deep porch in front of the cella - Roman feature.
Engaged Corinthian columns surrounding the cella - ‘Pseudo-Peripteral’ - Greek feature.
Frontal orientation to temple - Roman feature. (Compare Greek Parthenon left and Roman Pantheon right)

13. Exterior Decoration – The Entablature
Cornice - top section of entablature.
Frieze - with foliage and acanthus leaves
Architrave - directly above columns
Corinthian Capitals (acanthus leaves)
Fluted (grooved) columns

18. Ancient vs Modern in Nimes’ Architecture
Maison Carree
Carree d’Art

19. L'église de la Madeleine, Paris State Capitol Building, Virginia, USA

20. Comparison – Maison Carree and Baalshamin Temple, Palmyra
Scholarship question 2003: Discuss and account for the similarities and differences in style and execution.