Arch of Septimius Severus

The Arch of Septimius Severus is a triumphal arch and a beautiful place in Rome. The name in English is Arch of Septimius Severus and the name in Latin is Arcus Septimii Severi. The Arch of Septimius Severus was built in the year 203A.D (Stierlin). It was a triumphal Arch which was built because of the victory of the Parthian War (Scarre). It is used as a tourist attraction because it is a military triumphal Arch built with no functional purpose. It was made out of marble (Ramage). The arch has Corinthian capitals and has one big entrance in the middle and 2 smaller entrances on the right and left. There was a 4 horse chariot at the top originally but, it disappeared over time. Above the arch, there is a good amount of Latin writing. It is located at the northwest corner of the Forum Romanum which the Forum is located in the center of Rome (Tuck). The historical figure of the Arch of Septimius Severus is Septimius Severus.

Ludus Magnus

Finn Collins

Ludus Magnus or Great School, established during the Domitian reign (no exact date was found). The Ludus Magnus was the elite gladiator school of Rome and everyone from slaves to commoners would enroll to become the best of the best. (Bill Thayer) This structure could be seen as one of the influences behind modern day sports stadiums. The field is surrounded by chambers and corridors. The Ludus Magnus had a Marble base so we can only assume marble was used throughout this structure. The school was 60 by 90 meters and was close to the Coliseum. (Bill Thayer) This building was associated with gladiators and was seen as the best school for becoming a Gladiator. If the Gladiator was a prisoner or a slave they would be kept in small cells inside the school while the other Gladiators lived in barracks. (Donald G Kyle) The School consisted of a building that probably included classrooms, common rooms and sleeping quarters with a courtyard in the middle. In the courtyard, there was a small gladiator battlefield where the students would practice dueling.

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/ludi.html

Sport and Spectacle in the ancient world

Nero's Golden House

Nero's Golden House is also known as the Domus Aurea(Tuck). It was built in 64-68 AD, and it was partially destroyed and built over in 104 AD(Wheeler). In 64 AD, there was a fire in the old house that stood before Nero's, so Nero built his palace over it in 64 AD(Wheeler and Platner). Nero said this about the Domus Aurea "Now at last I can begin to live like a human being"(Platner). The construction of the Domus Aurea was very unpopular(Tuck). The architects were Severus and Celer(Tuck). It was made out of brick faced concrete(Tuck). The Domus Aurea was built  “between the Palatine, Caelian and Esquiline hills amidst an artificial landscape of which a lake on the site of the subsequent Colosseum was a central feature”(Wheeler). No order was specified in my 4 sources. Its highest estimated size is 370 acres(Platner). The east wing is fairly well preserved, but the west wing has been poorly preserved(Platner). The vestibule was large enough to house a statue of the emperor 120 ft tall(Scarre). The dining rooms were decorated with ivory on the ceilings(Scarre). Panels could turn and shower down flowers(Scarre). Pipes were used to sprinkle down perfume, and the main banquet hall was circular and revolved day and night(Scarre). Artists during the renaissance visited the paintings in the east wing(Platner). Nero's Golden House is a tourist spot.

Sources used for the blog post:

Roman Art and Architecture by Mortimer Wheeler
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/Domus_Aurea.html, Samuel Ball Platner
A history of Roman Art, Steven L. Tuck
Chronicle of the Roman Emperors, Chris Scarre

The Circus Maximus

The Circus Maximus, also known as The Circus Maximus is the largest and most important chariot racetrack in Rome. The Circus Maximus was initially laid out as a racetrack in the 6th century by Tarquinius Priscus as a racetrack that was easily accessible to the emperor's palace, so accessible in fact that the emperor could get to his private box without leaving his house.(Source) Later on in the 2nd century, the actual building of the Circus Maximus was constructed by Emperor Trajan, it was built to house around 150,000 people, more than most modern stadiums(Source). When the building was constructed initially, it was made out of stone with marble paving all over the outside.("Sport and Spectacle" Donald G. Kyle) The building is no longer standing and all that is left is the rough outline of the racetrack making it hard to tell what it is from just looking at it, however it does provide us with the shape and design of modern car and horse racetracks. The Circus Maximus is right next to the emperor's palace and is south west of the Colosseum(Apple Maps), all of which are located at the bottom of the Palentine Hill.(Source) Another fun fact about the Circus Maximus is that it used to be on a stream and the stream had to be redirected and the stadium drained, which was done by emperor Tarquin. ("Sport and Spectacle" Donald G. Kyle) Distinguishing features of this Circus were it's gargantuas size and it's location in relation to the Emperor's Palace.

Roman Building Project: Temple of Julius Caesar

The Temple of Julius Caesar was one of the many temples within the ancient part of the Roman Forum that were constructed by Emperor Augustus and dedicated by him in 29 B.C. The temple was built in honor of the cult of Julius Caesar formed after his death. Constructed out of stone and with a concrete base the temple is supported by Corinthian pillars and with divided at the entrance and a fountain at the base.  and features three statues on top depicting eagle and the figure of Caesar himself. (Favro) This temple represents the power and godlike esteem Cesar was held in by the Ancient Romans and is akin to the memorials of our own leaders such as Mount Rushmore and the Lincoln Memorial. It was listed in the Res Gestae a list of Augustus's Achievements as Emperor. The building is still standing to this day(but it is now ugly). (Thayer) It was built in the most central and significant point within the forum to highlight Caesar's significance and power.  

Temple at the time:  

Temple Now:

Baths of Caracalla

The Latin name of my building is Thermae Antoninianae which translates in English to the Baths of Caracalla (Livius). Caracalla’s successors Heliogabalus and Severus Alexander starting building the 211 AD that were then in 224 AD (Livius). The purpose of this building was a place for Romans to bath in a public space.(Kleiner) The buildings had different temperatures being cold, tepid, hot, steam, and open-air baths (Livius). The size of the ancient building is the size of a modern Olympic pool (Livius). After people would go to the gym they would go to the baths to cool off and clean themselves.(Livius) The materials the Romans used to build the baths were mainly brick, concrete, and marble.(Kleiner) The way they would heat up the baths by burning ten tons of wood every day to keep the water the correct temperature (Livius). The significance of the building in the modern world was influenced by the Baths of Caracalla because of the dome and the materials used for making baths (Livius). Also, the ways they had maintained such large temperatures for baths (Livius). From 218AD to 222AD a distant cousin and successor Heliogabulus and recreated the walls and from 222AD to 235AD Severus Alexander finished the wall (Livius). The baths were built on the Aventine Hill and are still there today (Livius). The Baths of Caracalla had fallen apart over time but still, most of the walls are still upright  (Kleiner).

Ara Pacis

Lucy Robinson

My Roman Building I studied was the Ara Pacis. The Latin name Ara Pacis means Altar of Peace in English. It was built on July 4, 13BCE. (Favro) An Altar means the table in a Christian church at which the bread and wine are consecrated in communion services. The purpose was to show the triumph of Augustus after going into war. It was instructed by the Senate. (Khan) It was inaugurated on January 30, 9 BCE. (Khan) Fragments were found in the 1930s and Mussolini was the one who wanted to continue finding the marble to rebuild the Ara Pacis. (Khan) After around 70 years of a boring building holding a beautiful altar, a new modern museum was built in 2006 to give the altar a new touch. (Khan) In 2019, the museum is a symbol of peace and a beautiful attraction for many tourists. It is built from marble, as Augustus loved marble. People also still have altars, or shrines to pray to someone just like the Romans did to Augustus. (Favro) It has Corinthian pillars on the outer walls and narratives on front and back. It shows a procession on the sides, where architects can identify specific people. (Favro) Below the narratives and the processions, there are plants that are more than 50 different species. (Khan) Some historical figures are Augustus, who the altar is dedicated to, and Mussolini who wanted to get all the fragments of marble from the ara pacis when he became the Prime Minister. A fun fact is that the altar would have been painted in bright colors, but over the years it came off. (Khan)

Old:



New:

Temple of Vesta

Temple of Vesta

Located at the East end of the Forum (Pleiades), the temple of Vesta, or Templum Vesta, was the site of the sacred fire to which the Vestal virgins tended to. Vesta is the goddess of the domestic hearth. She is part of the oldest circle of gods and goddesses. The temple was made during the Republic. The Vestal Virgins were a “cult” that was respected by the community. At the first of every march, the new year’s day of the oldest Roman year, the fire that they tended to would renew. The temple was damaged in fires several times, including B.C. 410 and 241. After the fire of A.D. 191, it was restored by Septimius Severus and his wife Julia Domna. The temple was originally made out of plaited reeds and had a straw roof to imitate the ancient hut of a Roman peasant, which made it easy to burn. Later during the empire, the temple was made out of stone and metal and it still had some burning incidents (Lacus Curtius). The featured Corinthian columns were separated by metal grates (Lacus Curtius). Extra steps were put in the front of the building for emphasis (Kleiner, p.8). These steps led up to a small, decorative space that surrounded the cella called the portico. After the final restoration in A.D. 191, the Temple of Vesta was closed in A.D. 394 by Theodosius. A modern example of a structure like this is a church dedicated to a certain saint, person, or a shrine. These examples bring religion into public places in the city or town and making the religion or person represented a part of everyday life in some aspect or another.

Maddy Collins

Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus

The Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, also known as the Iuppiter Optimus Maximus Capitolinus (Lacus Curtius), was first dedicated in 509 B.C.E. (Tuck), burned down in 83 B.C.E, and rededicated in 69 B.C.E. The temple, like most temples, was used as a venue for worship of the gods. It was also used as the endpoint for the Triumphal Procession. It was also perhaps an inspiration for other religious buildings to be built in obvious positions. It was constructed mostly of timber (Tuck), and was very distinct in its size, with its floor area nearly equal to that of a football field. It also featured unusually wide column spacing, and took on a square shape as opposed to many rectangular ones(Tuck). The temple was also unique because of its tripartite interior (Khan Academy). The temple was positioned on the Capitoline Hill, and was first completed under the supervision of Tarquinius Superbus, and dedicated primarily to Jupiter, but also to Juno and Minerva (Tuck).

-Connor Ramsey

Hadrian's Mausoleum

     

The Mausoleum of Hadrian, also known as the Sepulcrum Antoninorum to the Romans and Sant’Angelo di Castro Sant’Angelo now, is an important part of Ancient Roman and current history.

After the death of his son, Hadrian began building his Mausoleum in 123 C.E. out of brick, marble, and travertine. It was built on the banks of the Tiber River and remains there today, just a small distance away from the Vatican. Its cylindrical shape makes it stand out against the skyline of Rome, and evidence shows that it used to have a prosperous garden surrounding the structure that was lined with multiple marble statues. The inside was adorned with epitaphs, friezes, and podiums, some of which, still remain. When Hadrian died in 138, the tomb was still unfinished. But his remains were moved there when it was finished in 140. Though it was originally meant for him, many of Hadrian's relatives like his wife and sons are buried in the Mausoleum as well.

Many years after his death, the Mausoleum was used as a stronghold, and it is rumored that when they were attacked by the Goths in 537, the Romans used the statues on top of the structure to hurdle them onto the army. The Romans built a church on the summit in 560, it since then, the Mausoleum has been known as the Sant’Angelo di Castro Sant’Angelo. According to legend, Pope Boniface saw the archangel Michael sheathing it’s sword above the tomb to symbolize the end of the Plague, which is why the trademark statue of Michael still remains on top of the Mausoleum today. During the early middle ages, the church was replaced, and the Crescenzi refortified it. Seeing the great use that a big heavy building had, the Mausoleum was refurbished to function as a papal stronghold in 1277.

Currently, the Mausoleum of Hadrian still remains today as a museum of military history and an extant testimony to Hadrian’s legacy.

-Sophie Pong

Sources:

DEATH AND THE EMPEROR, Penelope J.E. Davies

Lacus Curtius

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Castel-SantAngelo

https://classconnection.s3.amazonaws.com/891/flashcards/785891/jpg/picture71335298748241.jpg

https://media.gettyimages.com/illustrations/vitige-king-of-the-goths-besieging-the-mausoleum-of-hadrian-in-rome-illustration-id664673913

https://cdn.britannica.com/s:700x450/39/44139-004-0A666790.jpg

Arch of Constantine

Alyssa
The arch of Constantine, built between the years of 312 and 315, and located directly next to the colosseum, was built to commemorate Constantine’s triumph over Maxentius. (Kleiner) Today it is a popular tourist attraction and remains an incredible piece of art. Carved into it’s marble panels are beautiful murals depicting scenes of Constantine with “good emperors”. (Kleiner) It’s corinthian columns and it's arches were all reused from other buildings. It was the largest arch built in Rome.  While some of the statues were newly carved others were taken from monuments for Marcus Aurelius, Trajan, and Hadrian with remade heads to look like Constantine. The scenes depicted things such as sacrifice, the distribution of largesse, and the granting of clemency. (Kleiner) The fact that the statues were reused has been referenced as evidence of creative decline in Rome.

Arch of Titus

Arch of Titus
By: Charlotte Eades

Titus Caesar was born on December 30th, 39 AD and became emperor on 24th of June, 79 AD. At first, the citizens of Rome believed he would rule like the cruel emperor Nero, but Titus quickly gained the reputation of the most generous Roman emperor. His greatest achievements in his lifetime includes finishing the Flavian Amphitheatre, building new baths, and capturing Jerusalem. The Arch of Titus, whose Latin name is Titi Arcum, was dedicated to Titus two years after Titus’s death “to commemorate his deification” (Scarre, 75). It is considered a triumphal arch because it also shows his military victory after the Jerusalem siege in 70 AD. Titus’s ascent to heaven, the parade after the siege with Titus in a chariot, the soils from the war, Victory giving Titus a crown, personifications of Honor and Valor and Titus visiting the relics on Pompeii are also featured on the arch. Originally, the arch was adorned with gilded bronze statues, but until the evil pillagers stole all the bronze. The actual arch on the Arch is the early style, which is curved and is made of Pentelic marble and stone. Other details are Ionic volutes, Roman Composite capitals, and Corinthian acanthus leaves. A fun fact about the arch is that it was built into the Frangipani family’s fortress in the 11th century. The Arch of Titus impacts the modern world because it inspired the Arc of Triumph, which is a famous French symbol. The Arch of Titus currently resides in the Forum and it is still standing today.

Thanks to:
Scarre
Kleiner

Khan Academy

Flavium Amphitheater(colosseum)

Cooper Buss

HB CKB

4/25/19

A4

Latin II

The Roman name for this building is the Flavium amphithetrum, but most people foreign call it the Colosseum.

it was built from 70 ad to 80 ad

The purpose of this building was to host  roman events such as gladiator fights, and other grand spectacles, most involving massive crowds filling the stadium. Some of the more interesting things that have happened in the Colosseum where Animal shows and mock naval battles that filled the amphitheater with water.

This building has become a culture reference for the modern world, and it is particularly associated with gladiators. Some people might compare it to the equivalent of a sports field or a large public stadium. The Popularity of arena sports is known to derive from stadiums such as the Colosseum.

This building is four floors of arches made with concrete, and are very asymmetrical in shape and size. Tuscan, ionic, and Corinthian columns where used.Limestone block-work was also used to build many of the coliseums features. Tuffa, a porous rock similar to a lava rock, was also used.It is speculated that this building used to have a retractable roof in case of rain. Also,many environmental disasters have happened in Rome, and have affected the health of the building.

This building is located in the city of rome, and was built " between the  Velia, the Esquiline and the Caelian,”(Sam Platner).

The emperor Flavius built this building to give the people of Rome entertainment, as well as inflating his ego, then when he died, his son Titus finished the third and fourth floors of the building.

The Sand was added to the Amphitheater to soak up blood from gladiator fights.

There is a pulley system in the arena that is speculated to have hoisted up fighters and heavier animals.Along with this, there was also a aqueduct in the Colosseum.

Colosseum past(Top)

Colusseum present at night(Middle)

Colusseum present at day(Bottom)







History of Roman Art
Fred S Kleiner

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/ancient-mediterranean-ap/ap-ancient-rome/v/colosseum-amphitheatrum-flavium-c-70-80-c-e-rome

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/Amphitheatrum_Flavium.html

http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Amphitheatrum.html
https://www.livius.org/pictures/italy/rome/rome-amphitheatrum-flavium/

picture from
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiHgMqa8uvhAhUCQ6wKHUAvBjcQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalgeographic.org%2Fencyclopedia%2Fcolosseum%2F&psig=AOvVaw3i5RnAZn90k2UMl4QT4vFh&ust=1556303953262218

all other images from previous sources

The  Roman Games
Blood in the Arena
Alison Futrell

The Roman Empire
Henri Stierlin

The Market of Trajan

The "Forum Trajani" (Taschen) or "The Market of Trajan" was built during ca. 100-112 C.E. (Kleiner) by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus (Khan Academy) on the Quirinal Hill in Rome (Kleiner). Apollodorus used predominantly bricks to construct the market and only used other building materials for door frames within the market (Taschen). The Market was named after Emperor Trajan, who ruled Rome from 98-117 C.E. (Khan Academy). Within Rome, The Market of Trajan was located around Roman Forums and other Trajanic buildings to represent the connections between the structures. The main purposes of the market were to relocate the shops and offices that were displaced by the building of the market and other structures around it (Khan Academy) and to guard items of importance in Rome. The market looked strikingly like an ancient mall as it was a covered space with shops and vendors. The market had five levels (Taschen), the two main levels, the ground floor, and upper levels (Khan Academy). The ground floor consisted of "cashiers of the imperial treasury" (Khan Academy), while the upper levels housed "imperial officials associated with the grain dole" (Khan Academy). On the higher floors, the Aulia (a large two-storied hall) held six groin vaults (the intersection of two tunnel vaults) that guarded artifacts such as distributions of free food or large monetary payments (Ramage). Finally, all levels of the Market of Trajan took the shape of a semi-circle, small shops/establishments were placed inside the semi-circle, also taking its shape (Ramage).

The layout of Trajanic buildings (including Trajan's Market) back then

(Khan Academy)

An image of the Market of Trajan now

(Khan Academy)

-Will Schnepf

Forum Agustum

The Forum of Agustus, or Forum Agustum, was built under the rule of the Emperor Agustus (Favro). The construction for the forum began in 31 BC and was dedicated in 2 BC. The forum was quite large, measuring over a hectare (Stierlin). Its main attraction was the Temple of Mars Ultor. The Temple featured peripteral sine postico columns, meaning it had columns on three of its sides (Roma), and it was made of marble with decorations made of stucco (Stierlin). In the front, the temple featured an exedra full of statues of past great men of Rome to serve as judges and inspirations to the citizens of Rome. The exedra mimicked the niches people had in their houses, which were held miniature statue-type figures of their ancestors to encourage and inspire them in the same way. Augustus treated his forum like a house, and himself as a father to the people of Rome, which is why his exedra in front of the temple of Mars Ultor contained figures of his own ancestors going all the way back to Aeneas. It also had statues of Romulus and Julii, who was said to be an ancestor of Romulus and Remus, who were sons of Mars (Favro). Continuing the connection to his stepfather Caesar, Augustus built his forum right onto the Caesar's forum. The architect connected to Augustus was named Vitrivius, and became working exclusively for him in the late 20's BC (Favro). Today, the forum serves as a look at the relationship between Caesar and Augustus.

Drawing of the Temple of Mars Ultor when in use (Favro)

Photo of the Temple of Mars Ultor in ruins today

Abby Jackson

**- Emma Blann’s Blog!_-**

The temple of Castor and Pollux:

Nancy H. Ramage and Andrew Ramage

Pg 57

Here is a common myth involving the heavenly twins of Castor and Pollux:

A hostile local king, Amykos, challenged pollux to a boxing match unaware that Pollux is immortal so after he won he tied the king to a tree.

The temple of Castor and Pollux at the south-east corner of the forum area, close to the fons Iuturnae. According to tradition, it was vowed in 499 B.C. by the dictator Postumius, when the Dioscuri appeared on this spot after the battle of Lake Regillus and dedicated in 484 by the son of the dictator who was appointed duumvir for this purpose. The day of dedication is given in the calendar as 27th January.

This iconic temple went through many changes and names. At first, it was restored in 117 B.C. by L. Caecilius Metellus. Some repairs were made by Verres, and the temple was completely rebuilt by Tiberius in 6 A.D. It was dedicated in his and his brother Drusus’s name. Caligula incorporated the temple in his palace, making it the vestibule. Then this condition was changed by Claudius. Another restoration, thanks to Domitian, changed the name of the temple to templum Castoris et Minervae. It had also been suggested that there was restoration by Trajan or Hadrian and that the existing remains of columns and entablature date from that period, but there is no evidence to back that up. The existing remains are mostly of the Augustan period, and anything done after that must have not been too major because there are no other signs of renovation.

This temple served frequently as a meeting place for the Senate

Source: Lacus Curtius

As told by the mighty magister Stewart has told us, these are “the three most recognizable columns in Rome!”

The Roman forum was once one of the greatest architectural gatherings in the world. But sadly almost all of it fell, yet the tree marble columns still remain.

https://www.classicist.org/articles/the-corinthian-of-the-temple-of-castor-and-pollux-an-order-for-special-occasions/

Then:Now:

Thank you!

Circus Flaminius

Benji Purcel
(Won't format correctly, so please copy and paste Google Doc link for correct format on a Google Doc)
Circus Flaminius

The Baths Of Diocletian-Roman Building Project

1. Latin and English name of the building: The English name is "The Baths Of Diocletian" and the Latin name is "Thermae Diocletiani". (Penelope.uchicago.edu)

2. Date(s) of the building: The frigidarium was redesigned in the 16th century as the Church's Nave by Michelangelo. "Luigi Vanvitell remodeled the church in the 18th century but was faithful to Michelangelo vision. (Fred S. Kleiner, 285)" Historians believe the building of the baths took place between Maximian's return to Rome in 298AD and the abdication Of Diocletian and Maximian on May 1st, 305Ad. (Fred S. Kleiner, 285)

3. Purpose of the building: The baths were not only used to bathe in but were also used for diplomatic purposes too. On a normal day, they were just used to bathe in, talk in, and there were separate rooms for lounging and dressing. The baths also had a select number of gardens on the premises. (Penelope.uchicago.edu) 

4. Significance of the building in the modern world/influences on the modern world: The baths now house one of the "city's most important archaeological museums, the Museo Nazionale Romano." (Fred S. Kleiner, 285)

5. Original building materials: There was a lot of brick, stone, and plaster (to imitate white marble) used.  (Penelope.uchicago.edu)

6. Architectural order and/or distinguishing features of the building: At the end of an approach there were two halls leading to the palaestra, at the end of one of the two was a huge and shallow bathing pool: open to the sky and the surrounding walls were decorated with murals.  "The interior columns, groin vaults, and elementary lighting gives a sense of the character of one of Rome's imperial thermae than any other building" (Fred S. Kleiner, 286)

7. Location of the building in Rome: The baths sit basically right in the middle of Rome and they are near the famous Chiostro di Michelangelo and the"Arch of Diocletian," which was also another on of Emperor Diocletian's creations. (pg. 285-286 & google maps)

8. Historical figures associated with the building: Emperor Diocletian was the one to construct the baths, and he did it to imitate the Baths of Caracalla. I believe Maximian also was there to help with construction but I couldn't find any information as to how he helped. (Fred S. Kleiner, 285-286)

9. Additional facts: The rooms organization was one of the big things that were modeled after the Baths of Caracalla, and so is the central hall to the baths. (Fred S. Kleiner, 285-287 & Penelope.uchicago.edu)    

10. Pictures:
   
The baths are no longer in use like they once were, but they are used as a museum and on the far end of the baths there is a hotel (Palazzo Montemartini Rome). There is also a Spa I believe to be a part of the hotel but I can't find if they are using the old baths or if they built one using present-day technology.  (Penelope.uchicago.edu & google maps)

Citations:
http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/Thermae_Diocletiani.html
Google Maps for the location
Book: Fred S. Kleiner "A History of Roman Art" (Enhanced Edition)
https://www.google.com/search?q=pics+of+the+baths+of+diocletian&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwicxM6zzuvhAhUJgK0KHZCqA_MQ_AUIDigB&biw=1440&bih=789#imgrc=TcP40FdFiVtqDM:


By: Cat Grayson :3

The Pantheon

The Pantheon, or Pantheum (Latin), is a temple found in Ancient Rome. It is said to be dedicated to all 7 Planetary gods that the Romans worshipped. (Roman Art and Architecture, Roma, Pleiades). It was first built by Marcus Agrippa around 27-25 BC and later rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian around 126 AD. (Pleiades/Roma). While the purpose was never originally recorded, by looking at the inside of the temple, were able to assume that it was dedicated to the 7 planetary deities. We know this due to the 7 statues of the gods inside of the temple. (Roman Art and Architecture). It was later repurposed when the Byzantine empire after they took over Rome, declared a Christian Church, and then named S. Maria ad Martyres. (Pleiades).
Its purpose is referred to as a "Simple, erect, severe, austere, sublime—
Shrine of all saints and temple of all gods,
From Jove to Jesus—spared and blest by the time"Lord Byron, Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (IV.146) (Roma)

Today, the building has become a popular tourist spot as people from all around the world come to Rome and view the ancient buildings and wonders. (Reasoning from pictures of tourists.) 

The building is made almost entirely out of concrete, with bronze that is used for decorative purposes (All sources). It's distinguishing features include: The only light is from the top center of the dome which allows enough to light up the entire temple (Roma). It is known as the best-preserved building in all of ancient Rome (Roma). Its giant masonry dome is one of the greatest achievements in Roman Engineering (Roma). The inside of the temple has 7 statues of deities which relate to the 7 Roman Gods they worshipped (Roman Art and Architecture). The building has no relation to any other Roman buildings and is located in Northwest Ancient Rome where it also happens to be Northwest of the Roman Forum and the Collesium as well (Livius). Historical Figures it relates to include Marcus Agrippa and Emperor Hadrian, as they were two of the main figures who built the Pantheon. (Roma/Pleiades). Lastly, some interesting information about the Pantheon is that the dome is 27-29 ft in diameter (Roman Art and Architecture/Roma). And the temple was destroyed in the fire of AD 80, restored, burned again thirty years later, which led to Emperor Hadrian Rebuilding it. (Roma)

Picture of Original:

Picture from Today:

 

-Jonas Pearson

Sources: Roma, Pleiades, and Roman Art and Architecture by Mortimer Wheeler. 

Drawing of Original: https://static.mfah.com/collection/14255.jpg?maxWidth=550&maxHeight=550&format=jpg&quality=90 

Picture of Today: https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/960x0/https%3A%2F%2Fblogs-images.forbes.com%2Fchadorzel%2Ffiles%2F2016%2F07%2Fpantheon_exterior-1200x800.jpg

Trajan's Column

Trajan's Column (Columna Trajani) was a column located in Trajan's Forum that was completed in 113 C.E.. The column was erected by order of the Senate to tell the story of the two Dacian wars and commemorate Emperor Trajan (Chronicle of the Roman Emperors - Chris Scarre, Roman Art and Architecture - Mortimer Wheeler). In the modern world, the column has inspired other columns of the same style called the Great Trajanic Frieze. Such columns include Nelson's Column and the Vendome Column (Khan Academy). Trajan's Column was originally built out of 20 big blocks of Carrara marble (Chronicle of the Roman Emperors - Chris Scarre). Distinguishing features of the column are the frieze spiraling up around the column for 625 feet which many scholars believe was initially painted. The frieze has 155 scenes depicting the two Dacian Wars and of those scenes, 58 of them featured Trajan(Khan Academy). At the top of the column was a statue of Emperor Trajan, but in 1587 Pope Sixtus V replaced the statue of one of St. Peter who is looking toward the Vatican (Lacus Curtius). The column is located in Trajan's Forum. The only historical figure I could find associated with the column is Emperor Trajan (Chronicle of the Roman Emperors - Chris Scarre). Some interesting facts about the column are: the column is hollow with a staircase spiraling up to the top, the frieze depicts around 2,500 human figures, the base of the column has a number of small rooms with the innermost being Trajan's tomb with his cremated remains in an urn of gold, the column wasn't originally meant to be seen from the ground but from the galleries of the buildings around it, the bottom half depicts the first Dacian War and the top half depicts the second Dacian War, the frieze shows in detail the progress of campaigns, and gives detailed information about Roman military equipment and strategies(Khan Academy, Lacus Curtius, Chronicle of the Roman Emperors - Chris Scarre, Roman Art and Architecture - Mortimer Wheeler).

Andrew Sincovec

Forum of Caesar

My building is called the Forum Julium or the Forum Caesaris. This translates to the Forum of Julius or the Forum of Caesar. The construction started in 54 bc. It was dedicated and finished in 46 bc. (Roma) It was later worked on by Augustus, Caesar’s heir. (Diane Favro) A forum is used as a public gathering space for people to meet with each other. There was a temple located in the forum that was the centerpiece. Caesar dedicated this temple to Venus Genetrix, who he celebrated as his distant ancestor. This building influenced the modern world through architecture. Buildings today can be seen with similar designs. The building was originally constructed with solid marble. The temple was octastyle with eight columns across the facade. On the long side of the forum square, flanking the temple, there were two stories of rooms that may have served political and/or mercantile functions. It was located in the northwest corner of the Forum Romanum. Historical figures associated with this building are Caesar, the one who it was started by and dedicated to, Augustus, Caesar’s heir and the one who finished the forum, and Venus Genetrix, the patron whom Caesar dedicated the temple portion to. A fun fact is that in 55 bc Pompey the great (a political rival of Caesar), had dedicated a monumental theater and portico complex in the Campus Martius which may have sparked caesar to create his forum complex. (smart history)

A sketch of the building                                         The building now

Tatum Chambers
Forum of Caesar
Sources- Roma, Smart History, Diane Favro

Temple Of Portunus

My building is called the Temple of Portunus also known as the Temple of Fortuna Virilis.(Nancy H. Ramage and Andrew Ramage)  It is translated to Temple of Manly Fortune.(Smart History) It dates back to 100 BC over 2,000 years ago and was based in the Republican Era. Its purpose was to be dedicated to the God of Portunus, “a divinity associated with livestock, keys, and harbors” (Smart History). The significance was to show off political or military accomplishments or monumental dedications. (Smart History) The materials used to for the building include stone for the columns and also wood, terracotta, and mudbrick for structures and and italic customs inside. (Smart History) This temple has ionic columns which are believed to be there for decorative causes because of how large the interior space is. (Smart History) The Temple of Portunus also has stairs only in the front of the building which explains that the temple is Roman, it is often mistaken for being Greek because it is derived from the greek architectural style of the length to width ratio but it is clearly shown that the temple is roman. (Fred S. Kleiner). The Temple of Portunus also called Temple of Fortuna Virilis is located in Rome, Italy adjacent to the East Bank of the Tiber River (Nancy H. Ramage and Andrew Ramage). It is also adjacent to circular temple of the Corinthian order and parallel in the Temple of the Sibyl. The historical figures linked with this temple of course is the God Portunus, “the temple as belonging to the God Fortuna.” (Smart History)

Grace Moundas

Sources:
Smart History
Nancy H. Ramage and Andrew Ramage
Fred S. Kleiner