THE
ROMAN
EMPIRE
GARDNER CHAPTER 10-6
PP. 276-280
LATE EMPIRE

The two centuries of the Pax Romana -> in
the Late Empire 193-337 CE Roman power
begins to erode

Difficult to keep order on the borders

Emperor Commodus r. 180-192 is
assassinated ending the Antonine dynasty

Economy in decline

Imperial bureaucracy disintegrating

The official state religion was losing ground
to Eastern cults

Late Empire is pivotal period when pagan
ancient world gradually transforms into the
Christian Middle Ages
THE SEVERANS

Civil conflict follow’s the
assassination of Commodus

African born general Septimius
Severus (r. 193-211) becomes
emperor

He establishes a dynasty that will
rule for nearly half a century
SEVERAN PORTRAITURE

After the civil war Severus declares that he
was adopted son of Marcus Aurelius

Portraits of the emperor show him with the
long hair and beard of his Antonine “father”

Painted portrait of Septimius Severus and his
family, from Egypt, ca. 200 CE, tempera on
wood

Only surviving painting of an emperor

Presented as aging w/gray hair -> two sons,
Caracalla has his borther murdered and
makes the Senate damn Gela’s memory ->
figure blotted out on the TONDO
CARACALLA

Portrait of Caracalla, ca. 211-217
CE, marble, 1’2” high

Portrait bust renders physical
likeness as well as character
portrayal

In life a ruthless tyrant, in sculpture
a hard-nosed, stern, and
suspicious face

Downturned mustache and lines
over eyes contribute to harsh
characterization
LEPCIS
MAGNA
New non-naturalistic, more abstract style
= Late Antique Style

Chariot procession of Septimius
Severus, relief from the attic of the
Arch of Severus, Lepcis Magna,
Libya, 203 CE, marble

Unlike the triumph panel of the
Arch of Titus this gives no sense of
rushing motion -> instead, stately
stillness

Frontality and floating figures ->
new to Roman art -> nonClassical style

The new aesthetic relates to
social. Political, and economic
upheaval
BATHS OF CARACALLA

Baths of Caracalla, Rome, Italy,
212-216 CE

Could accommodate 1600
bathers -> resembled modern
health spa -> included libraries,
lecture halls, and exercise courts
plus bathing rooms and swimming
pool

Design was symmetrical along a
central axis -> sequestial plunges
in tepidarium, caldarium, and
frigidarium

Stuccoed vaults, mosaic floors,
marble faced walls, and marble
statuary
THE SOLDIER
EMPERORS

Severan dynasty ends in 235 CE ->
half century of civil war follows ->
one general after another is
declared emperor by his troops
then murdered by another
general

Little to no significant building
activity happened in Rome during
this time
TRAJAN DECIUS

Portrait bust of Trajan Decius, 249251 CE, marble, 2’7”

Portrait of a short lived “soldier
emperor” -> depicts an older man
w/bags under his eyes and a sad
expression

The eyes glance away nervously,
reflecting the anxiety of an
insecure ruler
TREBONIANUS
GALLUS

Heroic portrait of Trebonianus
Gallus, from Rome, Italy, 251-253
CE, bronze, 7’11” high

Over-life-size heroically nude
statue -> projects brute force

Heavy set body w/massive legs
and swollen trunk -> face has
nervous expression
LUDOVISI BATTLE
SARCOPHAGUS

Battle of Romans and barbarians (Ludovisi
Battle Sarcophagus), from Rome, Italy, ca.
250-260 CE, marble, 5’ high

Extremely crowded surface with figures piled
on top of one another

Figures lack individuality

Confusion of battle is echoed by congested
composition

Roman army trounces bearded and
defeated barbarians

Youthful Roman general appears at center
top w/no weapons and is only Roman w/no
helmet -> invincible/needs no protection