AD 312-315
Paul Artus p.104
Workbook p. 92
Arch of Constantine
But first...a list of Emperors
Julio-Claudian dynasty
• Augustus 27BC- AD14
• Tiberius AD14 - 37
• Caligula AD37 – 41
• Claudius AD 41- 54
• Nero AD54- 68
Year of 4 emperors
(AD 68 –AD69)
• Galba
• Otho
• Vitellius
Flavian Dynasty
• Vespasian AD69-79
• Titus AD79-81
• Domitian AD 81-96
Trajanic Dynasty
• Nerva AD96-98
• Trajan AD98-117
• Hadrian AD117-138
Antonine Dynasty
• Antoninus Pius AD138-161
• Marcus Aurelius AD161- 180
• Lucis Verus AD161-169
• Commodus AD177-192
Severan dynasty
• (11 emperors)
Emperors during the height of
crisis AD 235-268
• Philip the Arabian
• Many others (constant change)
• Constantine AD 337-307
Hippo and arch!
• Usurper – person who tries to steal your job (as
emperor) without authority to
• Decursio – emperor riding into battle
• Adventus Augusti – triumphal return of Emperor
into Rome
• Oratio – The Emperor speaking to the Roman
people
• Donatio – the gift of money, given to the people
from the Emperor’s own purse
Vocab list for The Arch Of
Constantine add to the bottom, of p.93
in your workbook
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103
Location: West side of the Colosseum, in Rome
Architectural type: arch
Dates of Construction: AD 312-315
Purpose: celebrate Constantine’s victory over the
usurper Maxentius
• Inscription: The centre of the attic on the north and
south sides is a long inscription that proclaims that the
Arch was dedicated to Constantine by the Senate and
people of Rome on the occasion of his victory over a
‘usurper/tyrant’ (referring to Constantine defeating the
Emperor Maxentius at the battle of the Milvian bridge,
Italy in AD312)
• Dimensions: Height 21m, width 25.7m, depth 7.4m
Central archway – height 11.5m, width 6.5m
Side archways – height 7.4 m, width 3.36m
Inscription
What type of columns
Are on the arch of
Constantine?
This here is a pilaster – a flat
Square column that is carved into the wall
What type of capitals are these columns?
This here is a pilaster – a flat
Square column that is carved into the wall
Are the columns engaged
Or free standing?
Glue the handout to your workbook p.91, annotate the
sculptural features of this building
Projecting plinths (with men ‘Dacians’ on them)
Inscription on
attic
Corinthian
capitals with
Fluted
columns
entablature
Each column
has a
pilaster
behind it.
Columns are
freestanding
roundels
The spandrels of the main
arch begin at the height of
the small arches
2 small vaulted
arches flank
central archway
Bases of
columns are
engaged
Projecting
Pedestal
• This arch has relief on it that were taken from
buildings made for previous great emperors –
Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian & Trajan. The reliefs
show these different Emperors doing great
things.
• Why would Constantine want to have relief taken
from other great emperors on his arch?
• What does doing this, tell us about about
Constantine?
• Why would he not have chosen to put reliefs
from Commodus on his arch?
Arch of Constantine, p.92
workbook
• Was there a purpose behind this piece?
Constantine’s arch made as a dedication to Emperor
Constantine after his victory over the tyrant / usurper,
Maxentius in 312AD
Write on page 93:
• Taking reliefs from earlier monuments shows an element of
nostalgia for Rome’s ‘golden age’of prosperity, wealth, success,
military victories and when the Empire was at its height. It linked
Constantine with previous good emperors and their qualities (Trajan,
Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius).
• This is a piece of Imperial Propaganda, as each piece which is
sourced from a different monument still carries the same message –
the emperor’s virtue, his military power and his support of the
traditional values loved by Romans. (all ideas from past imperial
propaganda, still relevant for Constantine)
•
There was possible a decline in skilled sculptors
Parts taken from the emperor
Trajan
Trajan: Brown
Are these people Roman? Why/Why not?
Stone figures on the projecting plinth along
the attic are Dacian captives. They are Foreign
(barbarian)- long trousers, shaggy beard, felt caps.
These were taken from TRAJAN’s forum. (AD107-113.)
There are 8
Statues.
Hands and heads
Have been
Restored.
Links back to
Success over
Foreign enemies.
& says Constantine
Is a great general
Like Trajan
Find notes about the relief taken from Trajan’s
Period in Paul Artus and write it onto the
page
‘decursio’ (emperor riding into
battle) at the head of the army
while the Enemy fall beneath
His horses hooves.
‘Adventus Augusti’
The triumphal Emperor returning
to Rome. – Trajan stands, About
to be crowned with laurel wreath
by the goddess of victory
Head of these has been recarved to resemble the head of
Constantine!
Trajan friezes
Are highlighted
Parts taken from the emperor
MARCUS AURELIUS
Yellow
Find the information about Marcus Aurelius’
reliefs in Paul Artus. The heads are 18th cent restorations.
These reliefs (of him Accepting the surrender Of German prisoners) all show
Marcus Aurelius’ virtue of Clementia – forbearance and moderation
Attic is decorated with 8 rectangular
reliefs, between the Dacian captives
Commemorate
Marcus Aurelius
Victory in
Germany
& Eastern
Europe. 4 on
Each side.
Parts taken from the emperor
Hadrian
Trajan: Brown
Hadrian:
Blue
• The roundels
2.36m diameter
4 on each Side.
North side:(Left to Right): a boar hunt, sacrifice to Apollo,
Lion hunt, sacrifice to Hercules.
South side: (Left to Right): hunting emperor, sacrifice to
Silvanus (Italian nature god), bear hunt, sacrifice to
Diana
• These commemorate the Emperor’s love of hunting &
his devotion to the gods. Hunting also represents the
quality of virtus – courage, determination, manliness &
piety in his sacrifice
Sacrifice to Diana
Bear hunt
Sacrifice to Apollo
Boar hunt
Hunting party setting out
Sacrifice to Silvanus
Lion hunt
Sacrifice to Hercules
Parts taken from the emperor
COnstantine
Green
Relief from Constantine period is highlighted
Reliefs from constantine’s era
• Inscriptions over the roundels
commemorate the 10th anniversary of
Constantine’s rule in 315AD (this is where
the dates for the arch come from)
• The long narrow frieze below the roundels
shows episodes in Constantine’s life
• West = Constantine’s army leaving Milan
• South = Seige of Verona
= Battle at Milvian bridge where
Maxentius (the usurper) died
• East = Constantine enters Rome in triumph
• North = Constantine addresses the people in
Roman Forum (Oratio)
=Constantine distributes money to them
(Donatio) showing his generosity
• On the east and west sides of the arch
(the short sides) are two roundels.
• West – Moon (Luna) setting
• East – sun (Sol) rising in a chariot
…Both carved in high relief
Also from constantine
• Winged figures of victory in spandrels of
central arch
• Personifications of the 4 seasons beneath
figures of victory
• River gods in spandrels of side arches
• Pedestals of column bases decorated with
Victory, Roman Soldiers & Barbarian
captives
Constantine
Relief
donatio
Emperor sitting on a raised
platform to emphasis his
importance & surrounded by
ministers and Advisers, (all
dressed in toga contablulata) A
lot of movement in their heads.
Oratio:
Statues Of Marcus Aurelius &
Hadrian feature
In this relief as background.
(Representing
Virtue and piety, as these
emperors both
Had strong reputations for having
these
qualities)
Stylistic features – p.93 of workbook
• On panels of Trajan there is use of perspective,
front figures carved in high relief, and back in low
• Marcus Aurelius reliefs are very static, formal
composition & less figures. This is because they
have a symbolic function representing ideas &
virtues. Marcus Aurelius is positioned higher so it
draws attention to him
• Hadrian’s roundels are very simple – only a few
characters & depth achieved with high & low relief
• Constantine’s panels do not have the same
attention to detail or modelling. The decoration is
very flat & shallow
F a c t s – p.93 workbook
• The arch is the same size and shape of the arch of
Septimius Severus
• It is the last triumphal arch built in Rome
• Constantine rejected traditional Roman religion in favour
of Christianity (he died a baptised christian)
• Built while Constantine was still alive (different to arch of
Titus)
• It is also different to the Arch of Titus in that it has 3
arches and is more elaborate and detailed.
• Constantine ruled as emperor for ten years, this was
impressive as most did not last very long
• The monument is ‘architecturally harmonious’ (balanced)
Hippo and arch!!!