PUBLIC AND DOMESTIC BUILDING
Temples
Characteristics: high podium, frontal emphasis
Etruscan influence (e.g. tripartite Etruscan Temple at Veii)
Also circular temples – e.g. Temple of Vesta (? Imitation of early huts on the Palatine);
Pantheon
Theatres
The Greek theatre (e.g. Epidaurus):
‘horse-shoe’ cavea / more than a semi-circle
circular orchestra
small stage, not attached to cavea (open paradoi)
built against a hillside
The Roman theatre:
semi-circular / D-shaped cavea
semi-circular or ‘horse-shoe’ orchestra
wider and deeper stage
stage building (attached to cavea)
heavily decorated scaenae frons
(sometimes) covered walkway around top
can be free-standing
Theatres in Rome
Theatre of Pompey 55 BC
- first permanent theatre in Rome - “Temple of Venus …. with seats below…”
Theatre of Marcellus
- begun by Julius Caesar, finished by Augustus
Amphitheatre and Circus [see Pleasure and Leisure]
Bath buildings:
frigidarium – cold room
tepidarium – warm room
caldarium – hot room
apodyterium – changing room
palaestra – exercise area
natatio – swimming pool
‘special rooms’ e.g. steam room, sweat room, etc.
strigil – scraper
balnea – small ‘neighbourhood’ baths
Imperial thermae in Rome (symmetrical)
(Agrippa) - Nero – Titus - Trajan – Caracalla - Diocletian
“What worse than Nero - what better than Nero’s baths?”
[Martial]
Shelton p. 309 – 314, and nos. 353 (Seneca) and 354, and Fig. 5 (Pompeii Stabian Baths)
Sources read in class:
“It is said that his body was covered with spots and that he had birthmarks scattered over
his breast and belly, corresponding in form, order and number with the stars of the Bear
in the heavens; also numerous callous places resembling ringworm, caused by a constant
itching of his body and a vigorous use of the strigil.
Yet he made good his weakness by great care, especially by moderation in bathing; for as
a rule he was anointed or took a sweat by a fire, after which he was doused with water
either lukewarm or tepid from long exposure to the sun. When however he had to use hot
salt water and sulphur baths for rheumatism, he sat on a wooden bath-seat, and plunged
his hands and feet in the water one after the other.”
[Suetonius Augustus]
"We think ourselves poor and mean if the walls of the baths are not resplendent with
large expensive mirrors; if the statues are not set off by mosaics of Numidian stone, with
borders of intricate patterns, and of many colors; if the vaulted ceilings are not buried in
glass; if the swimming pools are not lined with Thasian marble, once a rare and
wonderful sight in any temple; and finally, if the water has not poured from silver
spigots."
[Seneca]
Caracalla
Diocletian
Triumphal Arches:
Single arch or three arches
Single – Arch of Titus [Kamm fig. 29]
DOMESTIC BUILDING AND CITY LIFE
(Kamm p. 132-135 and fig. 26; Shelton p. 59-65, 69-78 and figs. 1-2; handout for guest
lecture)
Shelton sources read or referred to in class:
Nos. 80, 81-83, 86, 92
Terms:
atrium
impluvium
compluvium
tablinum
triclinium
cubiculum
peristylum
lararium
vestibulum
insula
villa rustica
villa urbana